Quattro Kawasaki’s Dan Linfoot has taken one step closer to his debut MCE British Superbike podium at Thruxton, finishing fourth in race one after leading away from the lights.

The Yorkshire panel pin beat fellow front-row starter Josh Brookes into the lead at the first turn and remained in front before the Milwaukee Yamaha man pushed through. He then lost a place to Shane Byrne but kept on the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider’s rear wheel until his tyre went off and Ryuichi Kiyonari was able to nick third. He set the fastest lap of the race so will start race two from pole.

“We have got to be sensible but it’s a one-race improvement from Brands and it would have been nice to have stepped on that podium but Kiyo came strong at the end but I am just happy to have been able to mix it with these guys and for them to not disappear up the road,” said Linfoot, speaking to bikesportnews.com in pitlane.

“We will make some small changes to the rear for race two. It would be nice to be able to fight with them again and sneak a bit of silverware but I am not going to rush it, it will come.

“I think with hindsight my first couple of laps I was a bit hard on the throttle and took some tyre away but when Byrne came by, we looked to be losing grip in the same places. I was happy to still be able to ride like that at the end of the race and manage the tyre in the same way as the more experienced guys.”