LUKE Hedger finished the British Supersport Championship season as the top rookie.

The end of the campaign came at the wrong time for the Yate youngster, who recorded his best results since moving up in class in the final round at Brands Hatch.

During qualifying the riders were faced with a damp circuit and Hedger yet again showed good form.

He was in second place for most of the 30-minute session and after changing to dry tyres he recorded the fastest lap until being pipped by two riders at the end to start third – his second front row start of the year.

However, Hedger had out-qualified the top two in the championship standings.

In the 10-lap sprint race, yet again the weather played havoc for the riders, which left the circuit wet by the start.

Hedger got a good start, only losing one place off the line, and was in fourth place for the rest of the race – his highest finish all year – and started the fetcher race on Sunday on row two in fourth position.

During the main 18-lap race, Hedger got a very poor start off the line, losing three places, but very quickly made them back up and found himself in a six-bike scrap for the lead.

For the rest of the race Hedger was constantly swapping positions.

By lap five he was back in fourth spot and from then on he was in a battle to defend that position.

He ended his 2014 season with a sixth position, just four seconds away from the race winner.

It was a good way to end a rollercoaster year for Hedger after an injury forced him to miss two rounds and mechanical problems caused setbacks.

He ended the championship in 12th place and he only need another 37 points to finish in the top ten, which could have been achievable if it had not been for the problems at the beginning of the year.

Hedger said: "This year would never have even been possible if it wasn't for my sponsors and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has been involved in my career so far.

"I would like to say a special thank you to 1st Choice Flooring. They have financially supported me since I started racing back in 2006 and have played a crucial role in my racing campaign."