Fran Williamson posted a strong early challenge for the Privateers Cup when the British Superbikes roared in to Oulton Park on Monday.

When the competition for privateers was launched at the Cheshire circuit, Williamson, pictured left, swept into an early series lead with first and second places.

The Hamble engineer, who made his name in one-make series like the Harley Davidson and Aprilia championships, is riding the Hanson Brick-sponsored R71 Yamaha. One of his main rivals for the Privateers Cup looks like being Dave Wood who won a great scrap with him second time out, although Williamson was slowed by a loose fairing.

It wasn't such a good day for Southampton's British Supersport Championship hope John Crockford, who was plagued by gear selector problems during qualifying and in the race itself.

Starting from the third row of the grid, Crockford (Padgett Honda) quickly moved up to fourth place but then the gear problem recurred and he began to fall back through the field, eventually finishing 13th after a brush with Tom Sykes left him in the gravel on the last lap. Karl Harris extended his championship lead with his second win of the season from new Tenkata Honda signing Dean Thomas.

One place ahead of Crockford was John McGuinness on the Chrysalis Honda from Southampton. Mac had distinguished himself in the first qualifying session when he was fourth in the wet.

Best performance of the day from a Hampshire rider came from Waterlooville's Jamie Morley on the Lloyds Autobody Suzuki who was fourth in the National Superstock Race, won by the defending champion Dave Jefferies.

Shane Byrne again dominated both Superbike races, but there was a heartening performance by John Reynolds for the New Forest-based Rizla Suzuki team.

The former British champion is getting stronger all the time after breaking his collarbone on the out lap for the first round at Silverstone, and second time out at Oulton Park, he pressed Byrne hard and actually passed him briefly before falling back towards the end.

He still took second place and with teammate Yuko Kagayama finishing fourth ahead of reigning champion Steve Hislop, it completed a good day for the Suzuki team.