Costly crash for Ryan Vickers as Swaffham motorcycle squad endure difficult British Superbike Saturday at Silverstone

Norfolk racer Ryan Vickers' hopes of contesting the British Superbike Championship title have been dealt a severe blow after a costly crash at Silverstone today.

The RAF Regular and Reserve Kawasaki rider was forced out on the second lap of the first of the weekend's three races this afternoon.

And there was further disappointment for the Swaffham-based squad when Vickers' team-mate, Lewis Rollo, also failed to finish in the National Superstock 1000 class.

The day had begun well, with Thetford's Vickers qualifying sixth for the opening race of the final weekend before places in the end of season Showdown, which decides the champion, are settled.

The 22-year-old began the weekend 11th in the standings, 18 points off the eighth and final Showdown spot.

But any hopes of building on his second row start were ended by a collision with Danny Buchan at the Luffield section of the Northamptonshire track early in the 24-lap encounter.

And strong results for both Bradley Ray and the defending champion, Josh Brookes, mean Vickers now trails eighth-placed Ray by 24 points in the standings, with two 30 lap races left on Sunday afternoon.