THERE were mixed fortunes for Honda CB500 race ace Andy Burbidge at the weekend who crashed twice at Oulton Park but still managed to post a battling fourth place to keep him in touch in the New Era Motorcycle Superclub Championship.

Burbidge was knocked off in the first lap of qualifying for the first race at the Cheshire venue and had to start at the back of the 32-strong grid but recovered to post a remarkable fourth place.

But there was more misfortune in race two with the Redditch rider scaling the field impressively only to crash on the final bend trying to beat Richie Gelder into fourth place, and slipping to fourth in the riders' standings.

Alvechurch-based teammate Simon Hart was more consistent, starting seventh and climbing as high as fourth in race one before finishing eighth.

And in race two Hart held on to fifth for the entire race to pocket 11 points and sit 11th in the standings after missing a crucial double-header at Pembrey last month.

The pair return to Donnington Park in Derby on August 13 for the next round.