FFX Yamaha’s Filip Backlund made his race debut in the MCE British Superbike championship at Donington Park yesterday and found the whole weekend a ‘good learning curve’.

The former Pirelli National Superstock 1000 rider is still learning the bike, which was vacated by Ian Hutchinson a few weeks ago, but has brought his own crew chief and mechanic from his previous SMT team.

Backlund is staying with the FFX outfit till the end of the year, and after finishing in 15th in race two he was able to take home a point for his new team. Now he is looking forward to the next round at Assen.

“The FFX Yamaha Superbike is a bit different to what I have been riding in the Superstock 1000 class, so I am still getting used to it. Every session we are learning and we are making progress, which is great," ,” said Backlund, speaking to bikesportnews.com, from his new team’s garage.

“I will be with FFX Yamaha till the end of the year, which I am really excited about. I still work with my crew chief from SMT, and my mechanic, so they have joined us too - which has been a great help.

“This is the same bike that Ian Hutchinson had, but we have made some changes to the bike, but I think we are pretty sure with the direction we want to go with the bike. I have three more rounds to go, and Brands Hatch will be the last round.

“But I am really enjoying it with the team, and it has been a really good learning curve, especially as this is my first time in the British Superbike class – but things are going to plan."