Milwaukee Yamaha’s James Ellison has secured his place in the MCE British Superbike Championship Showdown after he scored a third place in the opening race at Donington Park, and the rider has vowed to be more ‘aggressive’ out on track, as he now has an opportunity to be a title fighter.

In the second race Ellison was pushing to claim another haul of podium credits but as he made a move on Samsung Honda’s Alex Lowes to go into the lead at the Esses he ran on and then had to make up the places again, working his way through to end the race in sixth.

The Cumbrian rider is now looking forward to the next round at Assen, a track that he has had success at in the past. But it could be a very different rider that fans see at the final British Superbike rounds as Ellison said a new approach is needed in order to win the championship.

“I wanted to try and get some strong podium credits going into Assen. Third was the best I could do in race one and I wanted the points to get into the Showdown. In race two I was a bit more aggressive in my passing because I had nothing to lose,” said Ellison, at the circuit.

“I pushed as hard as I could and I was in second and felt comfortable in the Foggy Esses, but I braked really deep and I could feel the front tyre tuck under and all I could do was go wide in the gravel, but I got back on track and tried to catch up with the other guys, but the pace was so strong and if you make one mistake you go backwards.

“I am looking forward to the Showdown rounds, it is a big relief getting the title fighter slot, but we will have to change our approach in the final rounds and keep fighting and not let the front guys get away with anything as it will go down to the wire again.”