TEENAGE racer Paul Cooper has brought a British Motorcycle Grasstrack title back to York.

The city was a dominant force in the sport during the 1960s and Pickering and District Motor Club member Cooper has put the area back on the biking map.

The 19-year-old joiner from Fulford won the 250cc class on his Hagon Yamaha and finished fifth in the 500cc British Masters Championship and eighth in the 350cc British Championship classes on Diamond H Jawa machines.

It has crowned a great year for the former Fulford School pupil who rode for England against a strong French side during the summer. He was the top English scorer in the international in Reims as England won by three points.

Cooper, who works with Peter Thompson's Craftsmen, Sutton in Forest, is sponsored by Barker Car Sales, Malton and Diamond H Transport, Warrington.

Cooper's father, Clive, was a noted rider for 18 years.

The Pickering club has been to the fore in the British Championships all season, with David Knowles, of Middlethorpe, near Bishopthorpe, finishing third in the British 250cc event and club chairman Rob Bradley shining in the 1000cc sidecar event.

Knowles, 24, has won various club championships during the last eight years, including being East Yorkshire Centre champion three times and the 1999 South Midland Centre champion.

He has also figured in the top ten in the British Championships for the last five years but this year's placing of third is his highest.

"Next year I hope to continue enjoying racing and hopefully improve on my result in the British Championship," he said.

His machine, a North Moor Honda 200cc two-stroke is prepared by Stuart and Guy Johnston of Easingwold.

Bradley, 36, was restricted in racing at meetings because of the foot and mouth crisis but won all three he entered, including the British Masters at Abington last month on his 1000cc Yamaha Exup sidecar outfit.

He also competes in hill climb events on a 1947 Vincent 1000cc solo machine and chalked up wins at Saltburn, Dalby Forest and Scarborough.

Speed merchant Dalby, a mechanic, also showed his versatility by winning a class at the Elvington Sprint.

Updated: 12:19 Wednesday, November 21, 2001