Scott Redding admits he couldn't settle on a reason as to why he produced his and ROKiT BMW's best result of the 2023 WorldSBK season in the final race at Donington Park, insisting 'the bike is basically the same as last year'.

The 2020 WorldSBK runner-up is having a chastening second season with the factory BMW squad, which has failed to build on a promising 2022 podium-winning campaign with a best finish of fifth place courtesy of the sidelined Michael van der Mark from the opening five rounds.

It was a best that appeared destined to stay intact as the British round - scene of BMW's strongest weekend last year - unfolded, until Redding clicked into some fine form in the second race to battle his way into a fourth place finish.

Coming on particularly strong in the closing stages to pick off four riders in the final few laps, Redding was relieved to get a better performance on the board at a time when his seat is under threat from the incoming Toprak Razgatlioglu. However, he admits he is uncertain as to why he was suddenly able to find some form at that late stage of the weekend.

“I enjoyed it. The setup of the bike is exactly the same as what we had here last year, the bike basically is the same as we had here last year, so I don't know.

"It took a little bit with the (recently re-laid) surface but when you have had so many bad races, it is hard to find the rhythm of how to ride correctly. It took me a bit of time this weekend in the races to build my momentum and understand.

"The grip here is good, so that helps us a little bit with our issues (Ed: usually still in corner entry stability🙂 but yeah, it’s crazy it just turns up and it works. Overall I was very happy with the weekend.

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"[Maybe it's] a bit more confidence. I had been having shit races and you lose confidence in yourself. Saturday gave me a confidence boost because I was coming strong at the end, I knew I had to get a little bit better Superpole race, I got a little bit lucky with the crash from Tom, but that made the difference for me to go, a bit more clear.

"Then I knew I had to stay calm, find my rhythm and come strong at the end. That was how I played it this weekend. Now go to the next race I don’t know what will turn up. It could be good, it could be not so good, but we cherish these moments that are better, when we can.”

When asked how he feels with the situation of not knowing what the target for the weekend can be, Redding insists he tries to approach events with no set targets.

“That is why I say I go with an open book every weekend. It is all I can do. I do not want to put my hopes up. Just turn up and race the bike. If the bike feels good and I can push, I push. If not I try to improve it.

"That is my goal every weekend because I don’t have targets anymore. It mentally makes it more difficult for me. If it is good I try to go hard as I can, if it’s not I just try to  understand the situation and improve it.”   

Additional reporting by Ollie Barstow