THE High Wycombe-based Brian Gray Powerbiking Race Team fielded all three of its sidecar crews during round 10 of the British Superbike Championships at Assen in the Netherlands.

Regular championship contender Gray and Portsmouth-based Jason Pitt were joined by brothers Sam and Adam Christie as they have a break in the World Championship.

Windsor-based Tommy Philp is the new Bemsee F1 champion and has made a massive impression in his first year racing sidecars. He and Tom Bryant, from Shropshire, were given a wildcard ride at the Circuit van Drenthe, also known as the Cathedral of Speed.

With 30 outfits battling for honours, qualifying went well with the Yorkshire Christie brothers in fourth position, Philp and Bryant in 13th place and Gray and Pitt in 16th spot. It was quite an achievement for Philp as World and British champions were amongst the field of his peers.

Race one on Saturday saw the Christies drop to seventh on the charge into the first corner so they had to catch up in the 10-lap race. The pair made up two positions and were closing in on the battle from second to fourth but ran out of time, crossing the line in fifth place.

The brothers did however improve on their best lap time at Assen and, with two wildcards in front, were elevated to third spot.

Gray, who has just turned 69-years-old, and Pitt, were out to try and get eighth position back in the points standings and were soon moving up the field, crossing the line to take 10th place in the championship results.

All eyes were on Philp, who at 24 was the youngest driver on the grid, and Bryant. The duo made a great start and were going fast into the first corner, trying to go around the outside of the field.

The pair were up to seventh when drifting over the rumble strip and onto the dusty tarmac, losing several places.

They managed to recover and were battling for 10th spot when they had a transmission problem. Philp could not change gear and they had to retire on the sixth lap.

Race two on Sunday saw the first 10 from the day before reversed on the grid. The Christies started from the third row but made no mistakes as the pack charged into the first corner.

The duo were battling with Lewis Blackstock and Paddy Rosney plus John Holden and Lee Cain, and once again took third in the championship result.

Gray and Pitt got caught up with another sidecar after drifting wide. The wheel arch of the other outfit got caught and, when it finally freed itself, they were going down the straight sideways.

The pair were still able to manager another 10th place finish and, while not moving up the table, they have opened up the gap between them and 10th-placed Andy Peach and Ken Edwards to 26 points.

Philp and Bryant made another blistering start and they were scything through the field from the back of the grid.

The team were up to 10th spot when they were given a long lap for cutting out some corner after overshooting.

It made little difference as the brake pedal broke with one lap to go and they were forced to retire from the race.

They will have a wildcard ride in the remaining two rounds later on this year.