TWO Northwich racers are aiming to put disappointing performances behind them and roar back into championship contention.

Motorcyclist Tim Poole is in top form ahead of the next rounds of the British Production Championship while Daniel Buxton looks set to get his Ford Fiesta Zetec challenge back on track.

Poole won three races out of three during a test day at Aintree on Saturday, picking up two race records and missing out on the overall lap record by two 10ths of a second.

The Percy Street-based rider is aiming to back from a disastrous day at Mallory Park which leaves him in ninth place in the championship with nine races to go.

And with two rounds at Donington Park over the weekend, he's confident he can move up the championship standings.

"I wasn't really happy with the bike before so we did some work on it and went out to test it," said Poole.

"Now it goes where you point it - which is a help really.

"If I can do well at Donington, I'm quite confident of putting some pressure on the leaders."

Buxton meanwhile picked up the fastest qualifying time in the official test session for the third round of the Zetec competition at Thruxton on Sunday.

He lies fourth in the championship, largely due to coming second in the opening round at Donington.

But he missed the chance to improve his position after a disappointing result at Silverstone two weeks ago.

Problems with fuel distribution in qualifying left him in 11th places on the grid, but after a disastrous start he dropped back to 14th, only to battle his way back to sixth by the end of the 14 lap race.

"Qualifying was a nightmare but now we've got that problem sorted out, I know I can improve," said Buxton, from Cuddington.

Daniel, who rides for Tim Norton Motor Services has been further boosted by sponsorship from two local businesses, MC Autos, from Winnington and Roofing Services, from Hartford.

Meanwhile airline pilot Lee Hannam, who races for relaxation, had mixed fortunes in the first round of the Opel Telecommunication North West Formula Ford Championship. The 10 round competition, staged at Oulton Park, kicked off over the Easter weekend.

At one point Lee, 36 and from Davenham, battled his way into 12th position, only for a misfire to force him back into 18th. But he fought back and completed the race 16th out of 29 competitors.

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