MATT HORNE gained a place in the coveted MRO National Cup with a cheeky late application on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Honda bike rider travelled to Oulton Park and rode on Saturday's test day posting a good time on his Honda CBR 600FY machine.

After a number of riders crashed out during testing he stepped in and asked for the chance to ride in the event.

"There are some very good riders taking part at that level. In the clubman races I'm quite good but this was a big step up in class. I wanted to test myself and the machine.

"I qualified 22nd on the grid and also finished in 22nd place so I was quite pleased considering it was my first race at that leve,l on a course I didn't know and on a new machine," he said.

Lee Morton of Eastburn was racing in the Super Stock race at the same meeting qualifying in 2nd place and finishing fourth.

Ian Hutchinson who works at Hobsport Racing in Eastburn took three 3rds and two 2nd places in the 1300cc Open Class at Cadwell Park. in a recent national series event at Silverstone he qualified 19th and finished in 14th place.