Cold but mostly sunny weather made conditions almost perfect at the circuit that’s due to host the Motocross des Nations in September. After two hard fought MX2 motos Stephen Sword once more stepped on the podium - for the third week in succession - after finishing second overall on the day with his factory KX250F-SR thanks to a pair of runner-up finishes behind wildcard Tommy Searle.

With Searle only due to compete in this round of the series, Sword becomes ‘virtual’ leader of the championship ahead of Pascal Leuret and Martin Barr.

“It’s been quite a good day,” said Stephen. “I haven’t ridden this track before so it probably took about half the practice session to really get into it but I got it figured out in the end and qualified fifth.

“In race one I didn’t get the best jump off the start but I stuck to the inside around the first corner to come out around fourth or fifth. I came through the pack and was just about to pass Simpson on one of the switchback sections for second when he came across me – I think by accident – and I went down. By the time I got going again I was sixth and had to come back past Barr, Leuret and Swanepoel into second but by then Tommy was too far away.

“In the second one again I didn’t get a great jump but used the same line around the first corner and came out in the lead. It’s been so long since I last lead a race that I can’t actually remember so I was enjoying it. I took it easy in the beginning – I was still pushing on but didn’t want to make any mistakes – and Simpson came past and then so did Tommy.

"Searle did Simpson then so did I, I thought I’d be able to keep with Tommy but I slid out and he broke away. After that I rode a little bit tight, I had some wrong lines and I missed a few ruts.

“Overall I’m very happy. Today’s been good for the championship. I’m looking forward to Canada Heights now to get another podium there.”

Gareth Swanepoel is unlucky not to join his Molson teammate on the MX2 podium at Donington. After fighting at the front of the pack in moto one to finish fourth Gareth is knocked from his factory KX250F-SR in turn two of race two and fights hard all race long to finish in ninth. With a 4-9 scorecard Swanny ends up sixth overall but only eight points back on second place in the series standings.

“In the first race I got a mediocre start but pulled through and was battling for second with Leuret and Swordy. We got mixed up with some backmarkers and Stephen managed to get by me and I ended up fourth. I was happy with that and it was a positive start to my championship.

“I got a better start in the second race and was around fourth or fifth but then Shaun Simpson wiped me out in the second corner and I wasn’t so happy about that. I made it back from dead last to ninth and salvaged some points. It was a good day really, I was competitive and in the mix and things are getting better and better every week and I’m on target for where I want to be at Valkenswaard.”

The Molson team’s MX1 contender Tom Church also scores well at the season opener despite not being overly happy with his riding on the day. The overly self critical 26-year-old starts well in both races and rides consistently and smoothly to finish third in moto one and fifth second time out. Unlucky to miss out on a podium position by just one point, Church has put himself in prime position to battle for the series win with rounds at some of his favourite venues coming up.

“In the first race I got a really good start – my bike was so good out of the gate. I was running second for 90 per cent of the race until Kenneth Gunderson passed me near the end – I was riding a little tight and needed to relax,” reckoned Tom.

“Once he got past I actually loosened up and rode a little bit better but I was still happy with third in my first championship race on the 450. “I got a really good start again in the second moto, lost a few places early and settled in fifth. It rained mid-moto and got really slick and I made a huge mistake and lost a load of time. I recovered well and made up a lot of time on Noble and Gunderson but couldn’t make it past either of them before the finish.

“It’s not been a bad day at all, I’m reasonably happy and I’m looking forward to Canada Heights. I’m really motivated and I plan to work very hard in the next two weeks and I’m going to come out swinging.”

With a weekend free from racing coming up the Molson squad are next in action at round two of the British championship at Canada Heights in the South East region of England on March 23.