Guildford-based racer Pat McDougall (23) will be making a welcome return to the British Supersport Cup series at Knockhill in Scotland this weekend.

Pat had previously been riding in the series for the StoneBaker Racing team with the aim of developing the squad’s YZF-R6 Yamaha into a machine suitable for world championship competition in 2009. He then found himself without a ride after three rounds, having finished second at Oulton Park, when the squad withdrew from the series to develop the bike via their European testing programme instead.

Completely out of the blue, he was offered a ride aboard the Team MFC Racing Honda at 3.00pm on Wednesday by team boss Maurice Flynn. Quickly re-arranging his work commitments, McDougall packed his helmet and leathers and prepared to head north of the border.

Although the ride has been offered on a one-off basis, McDougall will return to the British Superbike paddock later in the year. With the assistance of StoneBaker co-owner Richard Baker, he will be entering the British Superstock 600 race at Silverstone in September. Pat also hopes to enter the final round of the Superstock series at Brands Hatch in October.

“I have to be realistic about what is possible this weekend,” says McDougall. “I haven’t raced for three months so I will be a bit rusty. I’ve never raced on a Honda before but the MFC machine is pretty trick with plenty of go-faster parts. I must say a huge thank you to the team for this opportunity to return to the series. They are not putting me under any pressure for results so I will just have to jump on the bike and do my best.”