After threatening to upstage the established guard at Knockhill, Charlie Nesbitt did so in spades at Thruxton at the weekend with the MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing rider finishing on the podium in all three BSB races.

The 22-year old had qualified on the second row in Scotland two months ago but failed to convert that into a single race finish but he’d clearly learnt from both the experience and his mistakes and claimed his maiden BSB rostrums at the weekend in superb style.

Fifth once more in qualifying, the former British GP2 Champion was a revelation around the high-speed Thruxton circuit and looked totally at ease running in the leading pack, opening his account with a brilliant second in the opening race.

“It felt unreal to take my first BSB podium and I absolutely loved the race,” he said. “Coming into the last lap, I didn’t know whether I was going to be in third or sixth but coming into the last chicane Leebob (Jackson) and Ryan (Vickers) both parked it a little bit in the in the middle of the chicane and I managed to get the cut back, so I was over the moon.”

It comprehensively bettered his previous best finish of sixth, taken at Donington Park in May, and the Swindon rider proved it was no fluke by adding two more hard-fought third place finishes to his haul the following day, finishing behind Jason O’Halloran and Jackson on each occasion.

>>> 2023 BSB Championship Standings <<<

“The Honda was unreal and if someone had said to me at the start of the weekend, you're going to be on the podium three times, I’d have bitten their hand off. I’ve learnt loads following Jason and Lee and being in the front group, and also knowing how to manage the tyre properly in the front group. It’s been fantastic and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

Nesbitt has been building momentum as the season’s progressed, after making several wildcard appearances at the end of last season and admitted the podium had come earlier than expected.

“To be honest, I think I wanted to be fighting towards the front maybe towards the end of the season, but I think Thruxton being my home circuit, it’s quite special to me and I think it's just brought out another little bit.”

Up to 12^th in the championship standings, he now heads to Cadwell Park, venue of his debut in the class 12 months ago.