GRAFHAM’S Jonathan Railton had reason to be optimistic for the first round of the Metzeler Superstock 1000 championship at Brands Hatch at the weekend - before crashing out on the opening lap.

GRAFHAM’S Jonathan Railton had reason to be optimistic for the first round of the Metzeler Superstock 1000 championship at Brands Hatch at the weekend - before crashing out on the opening lap.

Following encouraging testing on the 2011 InMoto Aprilia RSV4 Factory, he ended the first qualifying session 11th overall out of 50 entries.

In the second session he could not improve on his earlier performance but still managed to qualify 17th overall.

As a result Railton, 20, had high expectations for the race, but this was short lived, as he had a coming together with another rider at Druids hairpin on the first lap ending his race.

The next round of the championship is at Oulton Park where Railton expects to continue his form in qualifying and complete his first race of the year.