Giles in for season.

Surprise Assen GP500 entrant Phil Giles looks set to complete the season with Sabre Sport, despite having only raced sporadically this year.

The former British Superbike privateer champion was drafted in to replace Shane Norval for the Dutch TT, after the South African and Sabre decided on an amicable parting of the ways. Despite has lack of experience with both bike and track, Giles managed to qualify for the race and only just missed out on a point when the Honda ran dry on the last lap.

Now, as a result of the FIM ruling that a team may only employ a total of four riders in any given season, he looks likely to remain on board for the rest of the year. Sabre has already used both Ron Haslam and Callum Ramsey as cover for the injured Norval in earlier rounds, leaving Giles in prime position to carry on racing.

''It was a bit of a baptism of fire,'' he said of his debut at Assen, ''I'd never ridden a 500, never used Michelin's slicks and never seen the circuit, so I was up against it a bit. But I enjoyed the experience, and it's great to be given the chance to ride for the rest of the season.''