Buildbase BMW’s James Westmoreland has vowed that he will make a return to the MCE British Superbike championship at the next round of Cadwell Park.

The rider has told bikesportnews.com that he feels confident that he will be fit enough to be competitive to ride at his local round in Lincolnshire, after damaging his thumb after a crash at Knockhill a few weeks ago.

Westmoreland has missed three rounds, and has sat out this weekend at Oulton Park, as he is still having treatment on his hand. He doesn’t feel that he has the strength to jump on his BMW today, and Lee Jackson will continue to stand-in for him during the triple-header at the Cheshire track.

The Northerner’s Showdown hopes have taken a dent, but Westmoreland just wants to be competitive for the rest of the season and to reach the podium over the next few rounds.

“I will be back at Cadwell and I can’t wait. I didn’t feel that I would have been strong enough to race this weekend at Oulton Park, as I still need to build up the strength in my thumb,” said Westmoreland, speaking to bikesportnews.com from the track.

“I was quite blasé about the injury when I had the crash back in Knockhill, but I didn’t realise how painful and debilitating it can be. But I have been having a lot of treatment and physiotherapy on the thumb and it is definitely helping.”