DIJON COMPTON’S eyes are still firmly on the prize despite a Brands Hatch experience that would have left most racers tearing their hair out.

The Ashenhurst racer went into the meeting at the Kent circuit leading the Harley-Davidson XR1200 series, but on a new bike.

The 33-year-old wasn’t even sure he had got a ride a week or so before the most recent round of the British Superbikes Championship after his previous sponsors, Leeds Harley-Davidson, went into liquidation.

But having struck a new deal withVolo Trucks Harley-Davidson, Compton was in business but suffered mixed fortunes after a second place in race one was followed by a mechanical disaster in the second race saw him stop on the sixth lap as his clutch failed and he was replaced at the top of the leaderboard.

Despite his 20 points from the first race he was overtaken by James Webb, who now leads the series on 126 points from Peter Ward (114) and then Compton (107).

However, Compton is not about to give the title up and said: “There are two races left and realistically the title is there to be won. If I go out and win those last two races them I should take the championship.”

The next round is at Cadwell Park on August 27-29 and Compton added: “We are going testing at Cadwell Park next week and we are just going to give it a go come the race weekend.

“Brands could have been better, but it could have been worse and there were certainly good things to come out of the weekend and to be fair I am really optimistic about the rest of the series.”

And to be still involved in the series was a big boost for Compton, who also suffered a broken thumb in the warm-up session for the second race.

“Obviously the outcome of the weekend wasn’t really ideal, but then in the end there wasn’t much I could do about it,” said Compton.

“It was great to get the backing of Roger Burnett and his RBP group.

“They have a hand in the running of the competition and, with me leading before the weekend, they thought it would be a good a thing if they gave me a hand.

“It was great to have their help but I did not get the bike until last Wednesday and so it was a race to get set up and then head to Brands for Friday.”

It was also a productive weekend for Huddersfield’s ‘J-League’ of riders as Joe Irving, Jonathan Lodge and Josh Caygill all turned in strong displays.

There were points aplenty again for teenager Irving as the Holmfirth racer took sixth place in the SUNOCO British 125GP Championship.

The Holmfirth racer’s performance brought 10 Championship points to put him sixth in the standings and he is now fifth in the ACU Academy Cup as his ride brought 11 points.

While Netherton’s Caygill did not add to his season’s tally the weekend was promising as he improved on a 26th place finish in the first race in the Fuchs-Silvolene British Supersport Championship, with an 18th place finish in the second race.

And there were points for another Holmfirth rider as Lodge came home ninth in the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship.

“It wasn't such a bad meeting in the end, but we had a few set-up issues early on in practice and qualifying,” said Lodge.

“The race was good fun though, I managed to work my way up to ninth place and once I got some clear track set the sixth fastest lap of the race.

“We are getting to Cadwell next week for a couple of important test days before the race weekend there.

“We were there at the beginning of the year and lap times I set there would have put me in the top five last year.”