REDDITCH racer Andy Burbidge was back in action at the weekend in the opening two rounds of the New Era Club Championship.

PP:14race.jpg:John Laverty in action at Brands. (Picture: Darren Price)

Burbidge, together with Alvechurch teammate Simon Hart, will be competing in the CB500 Superclub Championship from May and this was the perfect warm-up for the competition.

Hart missed the trip to Lincolnshire's Cadwell Park with an injured hand but Burbidge qualified in pole position.

After a poor start and a long chase the Redditch ace finished fourth in the opening race.

The second race saw a better start from Burbidge and he had a real battle to keep second place. In the end he followed young Irish star Jamie Hamilton, beating Aaron Easter to the line by just 1/100th of a second. Martin Carr was fourth, another 3/100th of a second behind.

The following day saw Burbidge remain on pole position for the races.

The first race saw him in another fierce battle with Hamilton, the Irishman again taking top spot with the Redditch rider 0.58s behind.

Light drizzle heralded the start of the second race but Burbidge continued to hold second position until a last lap tangle with a back marker saw him fall to fourth with just a few corners to go.

An almighty race to the line saw him land another second place just ahead of Saturday's winner Brian Gamble.

The next round of the comepetition is around the Welsh circuit of Pembrey on April 6. The CB500 Superclub Championship starts at Snetterton on May 6/7.

n There was a disappointing start to the new season for Redditch-based Buildbase race team.

The build-up to the Brands Hatch opener at the weekend was hampered when rider Tristan Palmer suffered a accident in testing.

The crash meant his bike needed to be rebuilt ahead of the opening round of the British Superstock Championship.

And it proved a disappointing day for the Coventry-based rider as he was forced to retire from the race due to handling problems on his Suzuki.

Teammate John Laverty fared better, qualifying for on the front row of the grid.

The race saw him fall down the placings though and he had to be content with a top ten finish.

The Buildbase riders are next in action at Donington Park in two weeks time.