JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison had a ‘gutting weekend’ and his MCE British Superbike championship campaign is over, even after making it on to the podium in race one at Assen.

In the last race Ellison was in contention for the win, but he experienced chatter with his ZX-10R and fell off the pace and crossed the finishing line in seventh, and could not replicate his third place in the opening race.

The Cumbrian is fourth in the overall standings and on a total of 560 points, but he is 73 points adrift of series leader, Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne. It has been a tough season for the former MotoGP rider but his crew have fixed the issues with his ZX-10R and he has been once again duelling with the likes of Byrne, and his JG Speedfit team-mate, Leon Haslam.

“It’s been a bit of a gutting weekend if I’m honest. We came in thinking we had a chance to take the Championship to Brands but unfortunately it’s not meant to be,” said Ellison.

“It’s certainly been a tough season, particularly with the mid-season issues we had, but since we got it fixed we’ve been pushing at the front these last few rounds and are running with Leon and Shane.

“I had a little bit of chatter towards the end in that second race which just meant the others were able to pass me but my plan is to go to Brands and end the season on a high with some wins.”