Ian Field takes victory on National Trophy return

National champion Ian Field made a winning return to the National Trophy Series, taking victory in round four.

With Paul Oldham dominating the previous rounds so far this year, all eyes were on the race in Milton Keynes to see if Field could provide Oldham with some real competition.

Field certainly rode well but the duel was cut short when Oldham suffered a bad fall at the beginning of the second lap.

Winded and suffering from a dead leg, the Hope Factory Racing rider made it back to the pits and was soon back in the saddle, picking his way through the bunch.

Although he looked strong, the task of catching Field was too much and he had to make do with eighth - still enough to keep him in the overall lead for the series.

Without his rival, Field made light work of the race. He easily took top spot on a podium boasting three Hargroves Cycles riders with Steve James and Jody Crawforth finishing second and third respectively.

Ian Field said after the race: "The gap grew and I just settled into the lead. I've definitely stepped up a level this year - 18th in the World Cup standings and top 15 in Super Prestiges. But it's always nice to come back here and show the colours."

Although Steve James was the highest-placed under 23 rider, Ben Sumner takes the series lead from Adam Martin.

Merce Pacios Pujado took her first National Trophy victory in the women's race after chasing down Hannah Payton.

Payton held the lead until the penultimate lap but the Spanish rider mounted a strong challenge. After a hard-fought battle, Pujado rider overhauled her opponent and went on to open a race-winning gap.

Elsewhere, round nine of the Western League was won by Matthew Fratesi, who is just 15 years old.

The talented youngster was in the mix from the start, getting away with a break of five. He made his attack with three laps to go, putting daylight between himself and nearest rival Scott Chalmers.

Ross Tricker has had it all his own way in the Eastern League of late but Mark Cotton ended his run of four straight wins with victory in round 11, held in Huntingdon.

In the latest round of the London League at Penshurst Off-Road Club in Kent, Jack Finch (PMR @ Toachim House) took victory by 20 seconds from VC Deal rival Dan Drake.

The 19-year-old has been out of action with a broken finger, but marked his return to action in great fashion.

In the Scottish League there was a fourth consecutive victory for Davie Lines (MG Maxifuel) at the Kinross CC Sandy Wallace Cycles event at Lochore Country Park in Crosshill.

And Luke Eggar (Southfork Racing) powered through the whole field in the South West League at Plymouth, taking the win after having been gridded at the back.

And Dieter Droger (Pioneer Scott) secured his fourth win of the season in Sunday's Lincolnshire League race at RAF Cranwell near Sleaford.

The 32-year-old Yorkshireman was 40sec ahead of Lincolnshire League regular Mark Cotton (Ellmore Factory Racing) who had won the previous day's Eastern League race at Huntingdon.