Jason O’Halloran secured his first podium finish of the season at Oulton Park, with the Honda Racing rider enjoying his best weekend of the year.
The Australian started race one from seventh on the grid and it wasn’t long until he was making his way through the pack. By lap 12 he was chasing down fifth place and then onto fourth.
With fourth place in sight, O’Halloran put in a brave move on Peter Hickman at the last corner and crossed the line in fourth spot.
O’Halloran put in the second quickest lap-time, earning him a front-row start in race two. The “O’Show” made a good start off the line and he stuck with the front group in the early stages.
The 29-year-old was in the pack chasing down the top three when a huge collision between James Ellison and Leon Haslam opened up the door for a podium finish.
O’Halloran got his head down and managed to get the better of Christian Iddon on the penultimate lap to secure his the final podium spot.
A delighted O’Halloran commented: “Well this weekend has been the best weekend so far for us with the fourth and third places, and a front row start! I am so pleased to be back on the podium, I had to fight really hard at the end of the race with Irwin and Iddon so to be on that podium felt good! We made a few small changes with the Fireblade from race one to race two, and I think it was initially better in the opening part of the race.
“I managed to get to the front, started to push and the tyre got away from me quicker than in the first race, and I just had to manage to the end. It was difficult as I was fighting with a few guys and I knew from my pit board there was another group behind, so I had to make sure I could protect my position. Oulton is a tough circuit but I’m so chuffed to be on the podium.”
His successful weekend means that O’Halloran is now inside the all important Showdown positions, in sixth spot.
The MCE British Superbike Championship now has a break in its season with round four taking place at Knockhill in Scotland on June 16-18.
