MALACHI Mitchell-Thomas raced up to fifth in the Superstock 600 championship after a superb fourth-place finish at Oulton Park.

The 13 points from the Bank Holiday meeting took his total haul up to 30 after three races in the British Superbike event series.

The Horwich 19-year-old served notice of what was to come when he came second in Friday's free practice and sixth in the first qualifying session the following day on his home track.

Sunday's second qualifying session saw him drop down the field to 12th leaving him with his work cut out for Monday's race.

Mitchell-Thomas started in 12th place on the fourth row of the grid at the Cheshire track but wasted no time making up ground and was up to ninth after the first lap.

By lap three he was eighth and then seventh after another couple of laps.

His forward momentum continued and he held fifth then fourth and on the final lap just missed out on third after a battle with another rider.

He said: “I am really pleased to have come away with a fourth-place finish after a tough weekend.

"It showed we had the pace to be on the podium and now we just need to work on qualifying better to make it easier for myself."