GRAFHAM’S motorcycle racer Jonathan Railton’s luck let him down at the final round of the 2012 Metzeler National Superstock 1000 championship at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

In fourth place and closing in on a possible first ever podium, the talented 21-year-old was ‘taken out’ when the rider behind him lost control of his bike on the very last lap of the season.

Grafham qualified 12th out of the 56 riders who entered the race with mere fractions of a second covering the top 15 runners – and in the morning warm-up he posted the second quickest.

A mediocre start, however, meant Railton finished the first lap in 14th, but lapping faster than anyone else on the world famous circuit, he passed riders on every lap, and 12 of 16, he was in fifth.

On the penultimate lap he moved into fourth with the leaders in his sights, but as he entered Druids’ Hairpin from Paddock Hill, he was clipped from behind and crashed out of the race.

It was the final stage of a season which started at the same circuit in April, but toured the tracks of Great Britain taking in Thruxton, Oulton Park, Donnington Park, Snetterton, Knockhill, Cadwell Park and Silverstone, beofre Sunday’s race.

Railton’s father David, a former racer himself, is confident his young son can build on this year’s successes, telling The Hunts Post: “Despite this disappointment, Jon’s performance should make him one of the contenders to take the championship in 2013 … given the right support.”

Next week, The Hunts Post will talk to the rider and his father about their hopes and plans for the future - and just what kind of support is the ‘right support’.