EVESHAM rider Mike Tustin and TeamMTR opened the Thundersport GB season at Brands Hatch.

They qualified 21st out of 44 for the first two races in a competitive A&R Racing Pre-National Sport 600 class, only 1.5 seconds off pole position.

After a solid start, Tustin finished 15th in two races while recording faster lap times than six rivals ahead of him.

On the second day, the team made a gearing change and previous lap times meant the 25-year-old was placed 17th on the grid on his Triumph Daytona 675.

He moved up to 10th spot in the third race but evasive action after a near-miss in front of him restricted Tustin to 11th in the final contest.

The next meeting is at Donington Park on April 10, 11 and 12.

Meanwhile, Evesham’s Terry Fuller has a new challenge, competing in Hottrax’s Clubman 1,000cc Endurance Championships with team-mate John Kilcar.

Fuller, 35, has upgraded in class after being second in his first year in the Michelin Power Cup Rookie 1000 Championship.

He said: “John has done endurance before, so that will be a big help, but it’s a new challenge for me, which I am excited about.”

The first round is this weekend at Brands Hatch.

Fuller had a tough time testing in Cartagena, Spain, when several crashes left him with injuries, including a broken shoulder and nose, cracked ribs and concussion.