James Whitham conquers cancer to win fifth round of the British Superbike Championship

Motorcycling

James Whitham completed a remarkable fightback after beating cancer by winning the fifth round of the British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park yesterday. Remarkably, it was Whitham's first race since being given the all-clear to resume racing.

BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP (Oulton Park) Fifth round: (15 laps, 41.53 miles): 1 J Whitham (Yamaha) 24min 30.59sec (101.67mph); 2 N Mackenzie (Yamaha) 24:37.10; 3 M Rutter (Ducati) 24:37.47. Fastest lap: Whitham 1:35.78 (104.07mph). Sixth round: 1 T Rymer (Ducati) 24:05.61 (103.43mph); 2 Whitham 24:05.76; 3 Mackenzie 24:06.20. Fastest lap: Mackenzie 1:34.85 (105.09mph, circuit lap record). Championship standings: 1 Mackenzie 122; 2 Whitham 85, 3 Rymer 75. Motorcycle City Superteen Championship (8 laps, 22.15 miles): 1 C Burns (Aprilia) 16:37.28 (79.96mph), 2 T Tunstall (Aprilia) 16:54.95, 3 M Heckles (Cagiva) 16:56.25. Fastest lap: Burns 2:01.85 (81.80mph). British 250cc Supercup (10 laps, 27.69 miles): 1 J Vincent (Honda) 16:20.88 (101.62mph), 2 C Ramsay (Aprilia) 16:32.45, 3 S Smart (Honda) 16:36.32. Fastest lap: Vincent 1:36.96 (102.80mph, lap record). British 125cc Supercup (10 laps, 27.69 miles): 1 M Lofthouse (Honda) 17:24.76 (95.41mph), 2 P Owens (Honda) 17:26.98, 3 J Davis (Honda) 17:34.69. Fastest lap: Lofthouse 1:43.46 (96.34mph).