AFTER a brilliant double win and retaining his title at the Southern 100, Pete Founds continued with his assault on the FSRA British Championship as the penultimate round headed to Croft in Darlington.

Founds and passenger Jevan Walmsley held a comfortable lead over nearest rivals Steve and Matty Ramsden going into this weekend and were hoping to wrap things up and become champions for a fifth time.

Qualifying would see their number 72 bike take pole position by a healthy margin, but title rivals Lee Crawford and stand-in passenger Jake Lowther were also on the front row and are always fast in the race.

Northwich Guardian:

Pete Founds and Jevan Walmsley. Picture by Ste McNorton

Race One saw Pete make a great start, but Lee made a better one and out-braked Pete into the first corner. Lee and Jake held the lead for the next four laps as Pete and Jev were hot on their tails.

On lap five, Pete made his move and hit the front – Lee and Jake kept pace with them until a mistake in the chicane saw them run wide and Pete got the gap he wanted.

TF72 crossed the finish line to take a great win, four seconds clear of second place.

Race Two saw the usual reverse grid format, with Founds and Walmsley lining up on the fourth row.

As the lights went out, the bikes blasted to the first corner with Pete making up a couple of places as he out-braked some of the slower bikes.

The No72 was soon at the front as he continued with his fight from Race One with Lee and Jake.

After the first five laps it was anyone's race but then, disaster – the chain on Founds’ bike jumped out of its sprocket and left the bike with no drive.

They eventually managed to get the chain back on, but it was too late to rejoin the race and they made the decision to retire.

A disappointing end to the weekend where they would have probably would have wrapped up the title but they still enjoy a healthy points gap, meaning they will need a top-five place in the final round at Knockhill next month to become champions.