'IT'S not the size of the dog in the fight it's the size of the fight in the dog' is a maxim that's close to the heart of Prestwich motorcycle racer Steve McDonald.

And it's a sentiment that's spurred the 32-year-old sales engineer of Newtown Street to national glory.

Steve clinched the 1999 New Era 350 Production championship from under the noses of the big boys after racing at Cadwell Park last weekend in rounds 12 and 13.

"Going into the meeting I had a substantial lead and needed only 12 points from either of the two days to take the title," said Steve.

"And on arriving at the track it transpired that my leading rival (Matt Gruby) had not fully recovered from a broken shoulder and was unwilling to do combat!"

Gruby is a mechanic for Mick Grant and his British Superbike team and as you would expect gets the support and advice from the top professionals in the racing business. So it's a real David and Goliath achievement for Steve who is fully self sufficient as regards funding, mechanics, tuning etc and part of his enjoyment is beating the 'big lads' at their own game.

"They turn up with all the equipment and entourage then I go with a V-reg campervan, wife, two kids and a strong will to win!" he grinned.

And it's that determination that kick-started his season superbly, winning all six races at each of his first two meetings and only a spill in the wet at Pembrey in April stopped him from taking a maximum haul there.

A series of top class rides from then on earned him a comfortable lead over Gruby and despite major surgery on his Yamaha machine after a crash at Snetterton in June he kept up the pressure on the chasing pack.

But it's not the end of the road for Steve who now has his sights firmly set on the Champion of Champions Trophy awarded to the season's title winner with the most successes.

His six victories last weekend, four trophy and two championship gave him maximum points and now he only needs to win at Brands Hatch tomorrow to crown a marvellous campaign.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.