A CROWD of more than 20,000 motorcycle fans made their way to Knockhill in Scotland for the eighth round of the British championship.

Despite a rain sodden practice session, Morecambe's John McGuinness qualified in third place to secure his now customary front row position.

Race day was dry, and a good start saw John second at the end of lap one chasing race leader and pole setter, Suzuki's Karl Harris. John maintained

second place until lap nine of the 26 lapper when spots of rain caused him to ease up, slipping to fifth place, but still on the rear of the leading bunch.

John's Australian team-mate Kirk McCarthy took over at the front but was ultimately to lose out to race winner Kim Ashkenazi giving the Kawsaki its first championship win, while Karl Harris taking second.

For Ashkenazi it was an emotional win. The ex-Australian motocross superstar gambled on a move to the UK Championship and this result marks him as a star of the future.

John's fifth place sees him slip to fourth place in the championship, seven points behind third placed Karl Harris and 40 behind championship leader and team-mate Kirk McCarthy.

The Championship moves to Cadwell Park on Sunday, August 26 and with five rounds remaining John will be using all his experience and winning ability to try and close in on this illustrious title.