Huntingdon motorcycle racer Mike McDonnell ended his season on a high by finishing second in the Classic Motorcycle Racing Club’s ‘Race of the Year’ at the Snetterton race circuit.

The one-off race at the Norfolk circuit is the highlight of the year for the club which specialises in racing motorcycles built in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

McDonnell, 48, a plumber from Huntingdon, rode a Grand Prix 125cc Honda built in 1979, a bike he only switched to this year.

Using the same machine he also secured fifth in the year-long Earnshaw’s Motorcycles & Ultratape 125cc Championship and celebrated a number of podium finishes along the way.

“It was my first year with this bike after campaigning much bigger capacity classic machines in the past,” said McDonnell.

“I was really pleased with the results I achieved this year against some strong opposition and with a fantastic number of bikes on the grid.

“So for 2014 I’ve a year under my belt. I’ve learned a lot about how to set the machine up better and I am confident that I can race for victories and the championship.”

Next year McDonnell is planning to go one better and try to win the championship and if he can get the funding will also ride at the Manx GP in August, which is the amateur version of the Isle of Man TT races.