Stephen has sights set on top ten finish

The 48-year-old reached joint-eighth in the standings earlier in the summer, however, engine troubles and an oily track have conspired to push him down the rankings after the latest meeting at Knockhill last month.

Stephen, from Smithstone, said: "I had to completely re-build my engine so in the first race I didn't want to push it too hard because it was basically like having a new engine that needed broken in, I finished 19th out of 20.

"In the second race I had a much better start and got up to 13th at the first corner. I got to 10th and was closing in on ninth when there was a big coming together at Dufus (a corner on the track) and I completely lost it and spun 360 degrees.

"I spun right round and was looking backwards and thinking, 'What will I do now?' Then a guy came flying right over and into the side of me. That's my first 'Did Not Finish' of the season."

The pile-up was caused by oil on the track after another competitor's drive shaft came loose.

Despite the setback, Stephen still belives he can finish in the top 10.

He added: "There's two meetings left and it's up to me to try and pick up as many points as possible. If the engine keeps going the way it was in the second race then I think I can do it. I'll need to be in the top 10 in each of the last races."