PETE Gisbourne was on track again last weekend for the third round of the EMRA Drayton Croft Mallory Trophy.

The Vale racer was on board his Yamaha R1 1000cc machine sponsored by Chapman Tyrrell Racing, Linden Leisure, Paxford Garage and Automotive Styling.

The season just gets better for Gisbourne as he gets used to the bike and lap times are improving at every meeting.

He entered four races, the first being the qualification race for the main race of the day.

Starting from pole position on the grid he led the race for the first lap. He was then passed at the start of the second but maintained second position comfortably until the race was stopped on lap three.

Out of the two qualifying sessions, this second position guaranteed fourth spot on the front row of the grid for the main race of the day, the Drayton Croft Mallory Trophy.

Gisbourne set another personal best lap time and recorded the third fastest lap.

The second race was the first 1300cc Open race with a full grid. Starting from 12th position on the grid, he started very well and was running in fourth position until lap three when the rear tyre went off and the bike was sliding badly exiting the corners.

Gisbourne managed to struggle round to the end of the race and finished in eighth place. The tyre problems were to cause problems for the rest of the day.

In the main race, the Vale rider started from fourth position and led into the first corner.

By the end of the first lap he was placed second and going well. Two laps later, the front tyre was sliding badly and he was running wide on every corner and struggling to stay on.

The problems were unavoidable and he slumped from second to a disappointing 17th at the finish of the ten-lap event.

In the second 1300cc Open race, Gisbourne with a better front tyre, started from 18th on the grid and managed to work his way through to finish ninth.

"I was expecting a good result in the main race of the day," he acknowledged. "However, the tyre problems dogged me day but I have now gained the pace to win and look forward to Cadwell Park in June."