Richard Freshwater was left battered, bruised and smiling following his first venture into the British championship.

The Peacehaven ace, who has already won this season's BEMSEE club Powerbike series, got a wild card entry into the British Superstock Championship event at Brands Hatch last weekend.

And Freshwater certainly made an impact in front of the television cameras.

The 26-year-old, who was the only man in the race on a 750cc bike, was delighted enough to qualify on the back row of the grid against bigger machines.

Sussex racing champion Dave Heal gave Freshwater some useful advice as he prepared for his debut at this level and the Peacehaven rider was determined not just to make up the numbers.

From the start, he immediately made up five places and he was working his way through the field before crashing at 100mph on Paddock Hill Bend in front of one of the main stands.

Freshwater said: "I am sore all over but it was a brilliant weekend. It was such an experience to be riding among the top 35 Superstock riders in the country.

"I met all the famous people, the likes of Chris Walker, James Hayden and Steve Hislop, and have seen how the professionals work.

"Everyone was worried about how I was after my crash but I just sat on the tyre wall signing autographs. I have never done that before."

The weekend was a costly experience, with Freshwater splashing out more than £1,000 to take part. A can of petrol (you cannot use your own petrol) cost him £75 alone.

However, Freshwater believes it is all worth it in terms of his long term ambitions.

He said: "Next year I will try to win the MRO Series. Doing well in that would give me wild cards into the British championship."

Freshwater's mechanic at Brands Hatch was team-mate Gus Robbins, from Hastings, who performed his duties in a wheelchair after breaking a leg at Cadwell Park a fortnight earlier.