ROUND nine of the British Supersport Championship at Oulton Park on Sunday did not go to plan for Northwich rider Craig Jones.

A crash in warm up forced the 18-year-old on to his second choice bike and into a struggle for position, resulting in him taking a relatively credible ninth spot.

The race itself produced some of the most spectacular racing of the season so far.

Series leader Karl Harris romped to yet another convincing victory ahead of second placed Stuart Easton.

Triumph ValMoto rider Jones was in the thick of the action as an eight-bike freight train bashed fairings around the circuit.

He said: "I broke my number one bike in a silly crash during morning warm-up.

"It had the new engine that Steve Mellor and the boys have been working on back at the workshop, fitted into the chassis that I felt most comfortable on and was absolutely mega.

"The engine was too dirty to risk running in the race, so I went out on my spare. The difference in handling and acceleration was really noticeable and it took me a few laps of the race to get used to riding that bike again.

"I got boxed in at the start and lost out a bit, but once I got into a rhythm I could run with the pack.

"I had to push pretty hard though and I was losing the front at every corner, with my foot flying off the peg as I tried to save it on my knee.

"It was still fairly forgiving and I was getting away with it, but if I'd pushed any harder, I'd have crashed, so I decided to just settle for the points."

He added: "If I'd been on my number one bike, I'd have beaten them."

Triumph ValMoto is next in action at round ten of the British Supersport Championship at Cadwell Park on August 23 to 25.