ADAM WOODS from Cirencester missed out on making the final in Round One of the Maxxis DTRA British Flattrack Championship by just four points at Rye House speedway track on April 9.

Woods, 33, has a serious motorcycling pedigree as his grandfather Ernie along with his dad Greg and two uncles, Steve and Trevor, all raced a varying levels (road, sprint and Isle of Man TT).

He won a round of the British Minimoto Championship at Llandow "a few years ago" but the mechanical design engineer was making his dirt track debut at Rye House on his 2012 KTM SX-F 450.

Circumstances conspired against him and he had very limited track practice time ahead of race day, so he was shocked at how close he came to making a first final.

In heat one he finished fifth of the 12 riders.

Avoiding a fallen rider in heat two meant he lost touch with the leading group of five and at the chequered flag he was eighth.

In race three he held his position with the leaders before fading slightly and bringing the bike home in sixth position.

His final position after the three heats was 18th place (from 39 entrants) with 20 points. The last place in the final was earned with 24 points, showing how close he had come.

"I'm now looking forward to the second round of the championship series at the East of England Showground, Peterborough on May 13, when I will be targeting a top five in each heat in order to make the final," said Woods.

"At the end of the month I will have an exploratory outing with the Bristol Grasstrack Combine in Hullavington (20 minutes from home) to see how we can support grasstrack racing.