Rookie Taz Mackenzie admits he was shocked to lead his first Bennetts British Superbike Championship race today on his way to banking his first podium.

The McAMS Yamaha rider took the lead on lap 15 of today’s 30-lap race after a move on team-mate Josh Brookes, holding the position for nine laps before dropping a place to BE Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin.

And while he eventually crossed the line third after Leon Haslam’s JG Speedfit Kawasaki came through in the closing laps, the pint-sized rider was all smiles as he celebrated his first BSB podium.

“I was using the TV screen coming out of Brooklands to see what was happening behind and I think I maybe got a few tenths on them at one point but then the gap came down again,” he said.

“I didn’t really expect to lead that many laps so once they came past I was just trying my hardest to stay with them and try get my first podium. 

“My team-mate tried coming past me on the second to last lap and I just wanted to get back past him straight away because I didn’t actually know how many laps there were still to go until the end of the race so I saw it said ‘final lap’ on the screen so I thought ‘right I’ve got one more corner to go’ and that was it.”

Mackenzie admits his first podium had been the last thing on his mind this weekend, particularly as he knew he had a new track to get to grips with.

However, after some encouragement from dad Niall this morning, he knew that a good start could be the secret to getting his best result of the season to date.

“It’s been funny this weekend because no one’s ridden the track at all. This morning was wet, so I was looking at the pace I had yesterday and it was quite good, so I knew in the race if I could get a good start I could make a go with the leaders. 

“Dad texted me from Misano and said if you’re feeling up for it, give 'em all the portions but I didn’t expect it today. To get my first podium of the year is unbelievable.”