Gordon Crockard claimed 18 championship points

Gordon Crockard finished fourth in the opening round of this year's World Motocross GP series in Spain on Sunday.

It was an impressive start to the 2003 season for the Newtownards rider who picked up 18 championship points.

Crockard, riding a Honda, finished nearly 12 seconds behind winner Frenchman Mickael Pichon.

Belgian Joel Smets was second on a KTM and his compatriot Stefen Everts completed the podium places on a Yamaha.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland duo Adrian Coates and Michael Laverty claimed top 10 finishes in Sunday's first round of the British Supersport Championships at Silverstone.

Antrim man Coates picked up 11 championship points for his fifth place finish in a race which was stopped after 15 laps because of a crash.

The Padgetts Honda rider started from ninth on the grid.