BIKE ace Lance Cronshaw is gearing up for another tilt at the Ace of Aintree title this year - and he has new bike to do it with.

The talented Great Harwood rider was a front-runner in the hotly-contested five-round series last year on his Bob Wright Racing Yamaha R6.

MORE TOP STORIES:

He finished third in the 600cc class and fourth in the 401-1300cc Superbikes.

But Cronshaw and his team have acquired a Honda Fireblade to contest the bigger class.

"It's a 1000cc, superstock-specification bike which means there's a lot more power than the R6, which we'll use in the 600cc class," explained Lance.

"It puts us on a par with most of the other Superbike riders, and although I haven't ridden in a race before, the testing has gone well.

Acknowledged as one of most competitive club championships in the country, the Ace of Aintree is spread over five rounds, starting this weekend, with Cronshaw getting three qualifying races and three points scoring races at each of the rounds.

With just eight laps per race there isn't much room for error, with flat-out racing from the green light.

For the fourth year running, Lance is being sponsored by Christine Dixon and son Martin, who are directors of Cranberry Coachways, based in Clayton-le Moors.

He would also like to thank Bob Wright, Dave Holden, Tony Morris of CMS Whitebirk, Martin Thompson, Tony Holmes Tuning Services, S&B Tippers, Great Harwood, and Simon at Hyndburn Commercial Paint Sprayers - and his mum and dad Philip and Christine.