In the qualifying heat Mackenzie got a steady start into tenth place, but worked his way through the field to earn himself a good gate position in sixth position at the hard-pack Bellpuig track.

In the opening race of today, following pain relieving injections in his hand, Mackenzie got a good start into eighth place at the first corner of the 35-minute plus two lap moto. By the end of the first lap the Scottish rider was in second position, chasing race leader Jonathan Barragan, before Antontio Cairoli took him down and out on lap two.

A frustrated Mackenzie remounted his CRF450R race machine into 22nd place and put in a gritty performance, lapping faster than most of the front-runners, to battle through the field into tenth place.

In the closing stages of the race the CAS Honda pilot was fighting through the pain in his thumb to hang onto his CRF450R, and crossed the finish line in a solid eleventh position.

In race two Mackenzie gated well and charged into second place in the hot conditions at the Catalan circuit. On lap two the 25-year-old reigning British Champion took to the front of the field, stretching out an amazing four seconds over his nearest rival in just one lap.

Mackenzie scorched out in front for 10 laps, until a hard charging Max Nagl caught the CAS Honda-ace, pushing him back into second position mid-race. In the closing stages Mackenzie dropped back as the pain in his hand worsened, but the CAS Honda pilot dug deep to cross the line in fifth place, which earned him eighth overall and his best Grand Prix result so far this season.

Billy Mackenzie #211: Race 1: 11th Race 2: 5th "Things have definitely been going better this weekend. The bike is feeling great, I’m feeling much fitter, and it’s just a bit frustrating I have this thumb injury I picked up in Portugal, which is very sore.

"In the first race I didn’t get the best start, but managed to get up-to second place by the end of lap one. I was feeling really good, then Antonio Cairoli completely cleaned me out and we both went down. I picked up the bike and got going, but I was way back outside the top 20. I just kept fighting all the way to the end, and I was enjoying it out there. I got back into the top ten, but then the thumb started aching pretty bad and I had to grit my teeth to hang onto the bike.

"I’m sure a top five would have been possible if I hadn’t been taken out needlessly so early on in the race, because my lap times were as fast as the front guys right until the last few minutes of the moto. In the second race I got a good start and took the lead. I just got my head down and went for it, the CRF450R was feeling good and I was out front for ten laps.

"I made a few little mistakes and in the last ten minutes I started to struggle with my hand, but I just had to hang on and bring it home in the best position I could. So it’s not been a perfect weekend, but we are getting there, and thanks to the team for all of their hard work recently. I need to get over this hand injury, and I’m really looking forward to Mallory Park, where I’m hoping we can put on a real good show for the fans.”

Neil Prince: CAS Honda Team Manager "We've definitely come a long way in the last few weeks, and Billy has really shown his capabilities this weekend. He is struggling a little with his hand injury, but I am happy with his improved performances today. In race one he was fighting at the front when he was taken down by another rider, which really he couldn't have done anything about. To come through from 22nd into the top ten with a hand injury was impressive, and he rode determinedly throughout with fast lap times right through until the last few laps of the race. In race two he took the lead early on, and stretched a healthy gap over his rivals. He began to falter late on in the race, but after getting off the bike it was obvious that his thumb injury isn't in great shape. His confidence has definitely improved, and we've also done a huge amount of work with the bike in the last few weeks, which was noticeable today. He will need to rest this week for his injury in preparation for our home race at Mallory Park in two weeks time, but we are getting there step-by-step."

CAS Honda would like to explain the situation with rider, Cedric Melotte, who has been suffering with a problematic back injury sustained at round two of the 2009 FIM World MX1 Championship.

Since jarring his lower back at the Bulgarian Grand Prix, Melotte has received regular intensive treatment on the injured area, which has caused him to miss races in five of the six events so far this season.

The 30-year-old Belgian has returned to the track in Bellpuig this weekend following more treatment at his home in Belgium, and despite a strong showing in first practice, the CAS Honda pilot was unable to continue after the second session as his back injury once again left him in excruciating pain.

Melotte has had treatment, including pain relief injections in the damaged area, to try and improve the situation over the last few weeks, but so far this is not having a strong enough effect to allow him to race.

As this is a serious injury, involving demobilising pain in his back and legs, Melotte has mutually agreed with the team that he should sit out of racing for the foreseeable future, or until he feels able to complete a race weekend.

Melotte has been very loyal, honest and good to the team throughout the year so far and CAS Honda would like to offer him its support during this difficult time. Should Melotte decide he is fit enough and wishes to return to racing, CAS Honda will continue to provide him with the equipment and personnel to do so.

The team and Melotte both feel that it is more important for him to concentrate on making a full recovery rather than aggravating the injury further, and he will now return home to Belgium for more treatment. CAS Honda will be announcing Melotte’s replacement for both the World and British MX1 Championship in the near future.

Neil Prince: CAS Honda Team Manager

“Obviously this isn’t a nice situation for either CAS Honda or Cedric, as he has tried many different methods to return to full fitness since injuring himself in Bulgaria. Cedric showed a lot of speed in the sessions he has completed this season, but it has become apparent that the injury to one of the discs in his back is not healing and he is unable to complete a race weekend. This injury is causing pain down his legs and the pain relieving injections along with the intensive treatment he has had recently are not working. It has been decided between the team and Cedric that he needs to focus on making a full recovery, rather than the risk of causing further damage to the area, which could have a dramatic effect on his mobility in later life. We are not sure exactly what treatment will be involved to truly fix the problem, but for now he will not be racing in the World MX1 series for the foreseeable future. Cedric has been very honest with the team and CAS Honda will support him whatever his decision may be to ride or race, but for now he must concentrate on receiving the right treatment to recover from his problem. We will be announcing who will be riding our second machine soon.”