THERE'S a cloud hanging over the Swanmore-based BikeIt Dixon Yamaha motocross team after their number one rider Andrew McFarlane crashed heavily and hurt himself during qualifying for the Grand Prix of Europe at Gaildorf in Germany.
The Australian broke his right collarbone and could be out for the rest of the season - a body blow considering that McFarlane was lying fifth in the MX2 World Motocross Championship.
There was consolation for the Meon Valley team, though, when their young rider Billy Mackenzie, who is coming back from serious injury himself, chalked up 24 world championship points in the MX1 class.
At one stage the young Scot, who lives in Tichfield, was challenging for third place, but he began to tire late on and dropped to 12th.
But Mackenzie came out refreshed for race two and took sixth place to move up to 30th in the world standings - no mean effort considering he's missed most of the season.
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