Stockbridge racer Leon Morris went into the final two races of the Ducati Trioptions Cup with a 13 point lead over teammate Dennis Hobbs as the two have battled all year long to claim the coveted title writes Tim Crisp.

The dual took place over the 3.66 mile Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone over the weekend, a track with fast flowing bends and tight technical sections.

Qualifying had Hobbs fastest with Morris fourth in a cloudy and wet session heading up row two of the grid just behind his teammate.

The title was all but lost on Saturday in race one as Morris went down at Abbey as a huge high side threw the Ducati rider off his Carl Cox P&H Motorsport 899 at high speed, ending with a painful injury to his little finger. Hobbs stayed on and finished second, but this was Leon's first DNF of the championship.

With a seven point deficit and a badly damaged left hand Morris decided to race on Sunday as he could still win the title and on a dry track Hobbs hit the front on lap two of the eight lap race. Morris did everything he could to keep up but as the race went on he was struggling to hold on to the bike and finished fifth, a truly brave effort, and one which cost Leon his finger which he has since had amputated.

Leon Morris will be back on the Ducati next season, as he said “we have unfinished business here.”