REIGNING World and British sidecar champion Tim Reeves rode to victory in the Dave Roberts Memorial race during the annual Festival of Sidecars at Mallory Park on Sunday.

Regular passenger Patrick Farrance was forced to pull out of the race after suffering considerable pain from a knee injury which he picked up at Brands Hatch last week.

Rick Long deputised for Farrance and during qualifying Long and Reeves powered through to secure fourth place on the grid.

As the race got underway, the pair were soon in a position to hit the front and establish a lead over Ben Birchall and Tom Birchall.

Reeves and Long secured first place with over a second to spare over the Birchall brothers.

Aylesford-based Reeves said: "It is a great honour for us to win this race which is dedicated to the memory of my former team principal Dave Roberts who sadly passed away two years ago.

"It is a fitting tribute to Dave who was so pleased when he saw us clinch our first world championship. He would have been thrilled to see us pick up a third world title plus the British title this year."