Magny-Cours in 2022 was the last time Scott Redding stood on a World Superbike podium. But it appears that his next podium is not far away.

It has been two years since Scott Redding last stood on a World Superbike podium. However, after Race One at Phillip Island it feels like his next podium will arrive sooner rather than later.

Redding finished fifth on his return to Ducati and took the fight to the front runners. The British rider was fighting with Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alvaro Bautista for the podium but lost out in the latter laps.

"It was fun, it was really exciting, it was nice to be back fighting at the front," Redding told WorldSBK.com.

"I felt like I was leading the race because Nicolo [Bulega] was so far ahead. To be back battling for a podium position on my first race back with Ducati, it has been amazing the team has been phenomenal.

"We had a difficult day yesterday, I did five laps all day, so there was a lot of pressure in qualifying to get it right. In the race, I wanted to do my best and show my potential, when I could feel the podium I wanted it but I didn't quite have enough."

Throughout the race, Redding got involved in battles with several different riders, something that he was unable to do at BMW.

"Being able to overtake people again, and being able to race in the way I want to race, I was having a lot of fun," Redding explained.

"I was pushing a lot because at the moment they were faster than me so I was trying to adapt and learn in the moment. When you make a step with the speed a lot of things change.

"Alvaro [Bautista] came under me quite aggressively and I took a breath and went racing again. It was nice, it was good clean racing."