PETE Founds and Jevan Walmsley returned to their domestic championship at Castle Combe at the weekend as they looked to reduce the 80-point gap to sidecar series leaders Lee Crawford and Scott Hardie.

Saturday's first 15-minute practice session saw the No72 FHO Racing Honda not sounding it's best as the team was checking throttle positions, and from trackside, thoughts of trouble seemed afoot.

With the qualifying session just a few hours away, the team got to work and in typical Founds style, the lads obliterated the field to put themselves on pole position by more than two seconds.

With conditions in Wiltshire absolutely stunning, the first race didn't start as planned as Founds didn't make a great start and dropped to fourth.

But as the race began to settle down, they started their push to the front and by lap five, they hit the front, outbreaking the Eddy's bike of Kieran Clarke into the Esses.

As the laps ticked off, the No72 Honda seemed to start slowing as the No17 Kawasaki of Crawford and Hardie closed in, and within two laps, Founds and Walmsley were passed in the same place they had took the lead.

But this wasn't just a pass, something was wrong with the bike and into the pits they came. After a few minor tweaks they were out again but they'd lost a lap and that was that - they were 16th and out of the points, which was a very disappointing end to the day.

Sunday morning brought another 15-minute warm-up and the bike still sounded like it was misfiring.

Back in the paddock, a loose connection on the safety lanyard was found to be the culprit which was quickly sorted and the team felt much more confident for race two.

As per Saturday, conditions were glorious and the track temperature was high and questions still remained over the longevity of the Hoosier tyres which are new to the series this year.

As the lights went out, the No72 Honda made a great get away and the lads kept their lead, and although uneventful for the first few laps the front order stayed the same as Founds turned the screw and started to pull away.

As the laps ticked by, this turned out to be the last the rest of the field saw of him as he pulled away to take a dominant win.

So all in all a good end to the weekend but the lads still remain second in the championship.