MORECAMBE motorcycle sensation John McGuinness arrived at the final round of the British Championship at Donnington Park last weekend knowing that nothing other than a win would give him the championship victory he craved, and even then he had to hope championship leader Karl Harris would score no more than four points.

Both John and Harris have dominated the latter stages of the championship and, sure enough, they qualified first and second on the grid with 2/10ths of a second between them in Harris' favour, so the gloves would be well and truly off for the race.

In his best start of the season, John forced his way to the front on the first lap in the most determined of fashions and indeed was pulling away at the front when, on lap three, his highly tuned Castrol Honda engine 'let go', smoke bellowing from the engine forced the disgruntled star to pull up to a halt at Starkey's Bridge.

John's devastation was clear from the pictures of him stood helpless at the side of the track while Harris roared to the championship win instead with John's team-mate taking second place in the championship due to John's retirement.

John said: "I was determined to win that race at all costs and I felt comfortable in front, but it wasn't to be... that's racing!"

True sportsman that he is, John added: "I take my hat off to Karl, in the end he deserved it."

Despite his disappointment, John found time tot hank his team, his sponsors and the legion of family, friends and fans who have travelled the length and breadth of the country to support him this year.