LOSTOCK motorcycle racer Curtis Rothwell moved up to ninth place in the Thundersport GB series after showing steady improvement in three races at the Anglesey circuit over the August bank holiday weekend.

A wrong tyre choice in wet conditions during qualifying meant he only started 18th on the grid for Sunday's race, but the 27-year-old managed to plot a course through the field on his 2012 Kawasaki ZX10R to finish 13th.

His improved lap time in the race ensured the telecoms engineer moved up to 11th place on the grid for Monday's two main races.

And he went on to produce his best two performances of the season.

After a great start in the first race, he held position to finish a season's best of sixth place and then went one better in the final race of the weekend.

Rothwell showed real aggression in the early part of the race to make up for an indifferent start and ended up just one second behind fourth place and only 13 seconds behind the overall race winner.

"Overall, the last few rounds have been perfect. I am understanding the bike and tyres more and more each time out," he said.

"With every race my confidence is growing and my overall race lap consistency is getting better every time out.

"I have now moved into ninth in the championship and hope to keep on form to aim for a possible podium result before the end of the season."

Rothwell sealed the Aintree MCRC Superbike Championship earlier in the month with one round to spare.

He claimed two second-placed finishes behind Rob Hodson, breaking the 100mph average lap speed barrier for the first time in the opening qualifying race.

"It was by far the best Aintree race weekend we have had," he said. "I won both of the qualifying races then was just beaten over the line in the first Ace of Aintree Superbike final, which gave me enough points to win my first MCRC championship one round early.

"The second final proved more difficult. I was against Rob Hodson and Rob Varey, who was level on points for the Ace of Aintree Championship.

"I finished second again, just behind Hodson, and took a 20-point lead in the championship after a brilliant race with Varey, who unfortunately crashed out unhurt on the final lap.

"All three of us broke into the 54-second-a-lap barrier, with Rob Varey setting the fastest ever lap of Aintree on a 600cc machine.

"It was the best race I have ever had around Aintree and I hope the final round in September will bring the same action."