A MALFUNCTIONING clutch denied Australian Craig Watson the chance of winning the Ashley Jones Memorial race at King's Lynn on Wednesday night.

It caused Watson to crash in his third race but he'll be leading the Newport Everest Group Wasps in their Premier Trophy clash at Somerset tonight (tapes-up 7.30pm).

Jones, the former Newport rider, died following a crash at an Australian meeting last November.

Watson got off to a flying start at the Norfolk Arena, winning the opening heat against Kevin Doolan, Matt Wethers and Jason Lyons who retired.

In heat seven, Watson was second to Jason Doyle and in heat 11, his third race, Watson was in second place when the incident occurred.

Watson said: "I had part of the clutch give way, popping both chains. It was very unfortunate.

"I knew there was something wrong with the bike just prior to it happening and I am pretty sure it was the problem I had over the weekend (Watson had to settle for two third places in five rides)."

Fortunately, Watson escaped injury. He added: "I am just a bit sore. I don't feel too bad, just a few sore muscles, I feel I have been in a punch-up.

"I was going pretty quick when it happened. It is a fast track and one I like, but after crashing I called it quits."

And tonight Watson faces Sweden's Magnus Zetterstrom, a rider he describes as "one of the best in our league. My priority will be to beat him a couple of times. But the main thing is to make sure the clutch is sorted out. I have not been making consistent starts.

"I will have a different clutch and hopefully that will be the saviour of the situation."

The second leg is at the Hayley Stadium on Sunday (2.30pm).

Wasps had anticipated riding the postponed meeting on the Isle of Wight on Tuesday, but this has proved not possible because Somerset are the visitors. A new date has yet to be decided.

Result: Ashley Jones Memorial, King's Lynn: 1 Shane Parker (Glasgow), Tomas Topinka (King's Lynn), 3 Olly Allen (Coventry), 4 Jason Doyle (Isle of Wight)

Fixtures: Today: Sky Sports Elite League: Arena Essex v Ipswich 8pm, Belle Vue v Wolverhampton 11am, Coventry v Wolverhampton 8pm, Eastbourne v Poole 7pm, Ipswich v Arena Essex 2.15, Oxford v Reading 12.30, Peterborough v Swindon 5pm, Poole v Eastbourne 11am, Reading v Oxford 7.45 Premier Trophy: Edinburgh v Workington 7.30, King's Lynn v Isle Of Wight 7pm, Somerset v Newport 7.30, Sheffield v Redcar 7pm

Tomorrow: Premier Trophy: Berwick v Workington 7pm, Stoke v Redcar 7.30 Conference League: Rye House v Mildenhall 7pm Sunday: Elite League Riders' Championship: Poole 5pm Premier Trophy: Glasgow v Newcastle 4pm, Mildenhall v Rye House 3.30, Newport v Somerset 2.30 Challenge: Buxton v USA Dream Team 3pm