Rossendale motorcycle racer Garry Buck scored his maiden victory in the Junior 1000 Endu-rance Championship.

Buck, 33, lifted the trophy along with his team-mate, Ash Roth-well from Ramsbottom, after a tough, three-hour endurance race at Cadwell Park.

And the pair almost missed the start following a heavy crash during practice. However, late night repairs by the TM17 team saw them make it in time for qualifying.

Fourth on a capacity grid of 32 bikes, Buck, riding a 2008 Honda Fireblade, and Rothwell, on a 2006 Suzuki GSXR 1000, were up to third at the halfway point, despite the wet conditions.

After two thirds distance they had closed the gap to the leaders and held a solid second position.

The pair had been in this position at the first round some six weeks earlier and a crash had sent them skittling down the order, scoring no points.

This time they held on to take the lead in the final half hour and take the chequered flag by four seconds.

The format of the series sees riders doing 30-minute stints on their own bikes over three hours, with a ‘Le Mans’ style start, which involves riders running across the track and starting their machine. The seven-round series takes in all the major UK circuits such as Silverstone and Oulton Park.

* The team are looking for sponsors to help support them for the remaining rounds.

Anyone interested can email Garry3372@hotmail.com