HAMPSHIRE motoross star Billy Mackenzie couldn't believe his bad luck when the jinx of Teutschenal struck again last weekend.

It was at the same German circuit last year that Tichfield-based Scot Mackenzie suffered serious foot injuries, which kept him out for the season.

After qualifying comfortably for Sunday's grand prix, a rear brake jammed and the Bike It Dixon Yamaha rider suffered a huge accident, which left him in hospital with back and shoulder injuries.

Team manager Steve Dixon reported: "Billy suffered a dislocated shoulder, which the doctors eventually managed to get back in, and a compression of the vertebrae.

"There was some heavy bruising to his ribs as well, but we hope to get him back to speed as soon as possible."

Mackenzie's Yamaha teammate, Australian Andrew McFarlane, slipped from third to fourth in the overall standings of MX2 after being taken out by another rider in race one when he recovered to take 13th place. Second time out he suffered from a wrong tyre selection and finished seventh.

But McFarlane bounced back with a win in the first round of the British Championship round in Torrington on Sunday. Aboard the 250cc four-stroke he won a tremendous battle with South African Tyla Rattray, but there was disappointment for the Australian second time out when a seized engine put him out when he was lying fourth.

Top sidecar drivers Matt Fumerola and Matt Owen top the bill for the first round of the Southern Centre Grass Track Riders Championships at Whaddoms farm, Owslebury on Sunday (12.30). Leading local riders John Weeks, Andy Downes and Rob Snow figure in the 500cc solo class.