Bermuda's Chris Wallington finished ninth out of 30 in two races at the world-famous Daytona race track over the weekend.

The 21-year-old motorcycle racer overcame the double disadvantage of having a low-powered bike and a poor starting position to give a good account of himself.

After the success of his debut season in American amateur racing last year, which earned him second place in the Grand Prix Singles Division of the Florida and South East Region Championship Cup Series, he had hoped to do better at Daytona.

But Wallington, racing a 125cc Honda against rivals on machines with engine capacities as big 750cc, felt the shape of the Florida circuit had made it difficult to compete with his mechanical limitations.

"Daytona is all about horsepower and not cornering speed and on 75 percent of the track you are going flat out,'' said Wallington.

"It's a fun track to race, but it's not so much fun when you get overtaken by riders just because they have more powerful bikes -- that just makes you angry.'' To achieve his ninth place finishes in the Lightweight Grand Prix and the GT3, Wallington had to do his fair share of overtaking, as he started from the back.

There is no qualifying to determine who gets the prime starting positions.

Instead it is worked out on a first come, first served basis.

Wallington added: "To start further up, you have to pre-register and that means to pay well in advance and I just can't afford to do that. I tend to register on the day of the race and that means I start from near the back.'' The former Saltus student was forced to retire early from a third race, the GP Singles, after his exhaust blew up.

This season, Wallington aims to get a more powerful 250cc bike and yesterday, while still in Florida, he viewed a second-hand machine priced at $15,000.

"Hopefully I can get a 250 by April,'' said Wallington. "I need to get it during the season to have a chance of being competitive.'' Wallington's aim is to join the ranks of the highly-paid professional factory riders, some of whom he will watch in action at Daytona this week before he returns to Bermuda at the weekend.

His next race will be in West Palm Beach, Florida, in three weeks.

Daytona daredevil: Chris Wallington, who bagged two ninth place finishes in Florida racing against more powerful machines than his 125cc Honda, in high-speed action.