Milwaukee Yamaha’s James Ellison is not a happy rider after he failed to come away from the MCE British Superbike race weekend with a podium and could only muster a fifth and fourth place finish on Sunday.

Things did not go to plan during qualifying as the rider came off his bike in Q2 and had to start race one from the sixth row. But he made up nine places on the opening lap, continuing to move up the order to score a fifth place.

In race two Ellison had been in close contention with his team-mate, Tommy Bridewell until he suffered a huge moment on the seventh lap; he saved a huge high-side by holding onto the bike despite being completely out of the seat and off to the side of his Yamaha. The moment dropped Ellison back off the pack but he closed back to claim fourth place.

Even though the Cumbrian father-to-be is angry with the mistakes he made he has not given up on the title just yet and is still third in the overall championship standings, and will be on the pace for the last round at Brands Hatch.

“I am still annoyed with myself here as it should have been more here this weekend. The first race we were on the back foot because of qualifying and it started well; I passed nine people on the first lap but we had made a tiny change and the bike wasn’t handling the same as it was when we did our best lap in free practice three,” said Ellison, speaking at the circuit.

“We thought it would have helped and fifth was the best we could. I didn’t get a great start in race two but was then up behind the Tyco Suzuki boys and I was desperate to get passed. I took a big handful of throttle at Vale and before I knew it I was looking at the sky!

“I thought just don’t touch the floor and I just kept the throttle open and was lucky enough to get on – those sit ups in the gym and the core strength paid off! I certainly haven’t given up on the title yet because there are still three race wins to be had at Brands Hatch.”