O'Halloran savours first podium for new Honda Fireblade

Click here for full BSB championship points after round three at Oulton Park

Jason O'Halloran says Honda Racing's maiden podium for the new Fireblade CBR1000RR SP2 in race two at Oulton Park is a 'great reward' for his team's early season developments ahead of the in-season break.

The Australian rider profited from Leon Haslam and James Ellison suffering a dramatic crash ahead of him to suddenly see a podium place up for grabs having consistently battled in the lead pack at the Cheshire track.

Having grabbed fourth place in race one, O'Halloran was determined to reach the rostrum and despite being passed by Christian Iddon and Glenn Irwin on the penultimate lap he edged back past Iddon at Old Hall corner on the final lap to take a historic third place.

The podium marks the new Honda Fireblade's first top three finish in any major championship since its introduction at the start of 2017 and O'Halloran, who said podiums were a realistic target approaching Oulton Park, believes his team fully deserve it for their efforts developing the new bike.

"It is a great reward for all the hard work and perseverance by the team," O'Halloran said. "It is no secret we were struggling at the start and it has taken a lot of hard work and determination to turn it around so to be at round three and stood on the podium is a big credit to the team.

"We will continually improve throughout the season so to be at this point now is great. We've got a bit of a break now and some tests lined up so hopefully we can just get stronger and build on this result. A fourth and a third today so a fantastic round in the early development of the new bike.

"We're still not quite there with the bike yet and I used up quite a bit of the tyre overriding it. After dropping back I tried to stay consistent and could match Glenn Irwin's pace but every time he or Christian Iddon got past I knew I had to counter attack otherwise I'd keep dropping backwards. So I kept fighting hard and as soon as I saw the podium was possible I gave it everything."

O'Halloran and his Honda Racing squad will enjoy a test day at Knockhill during the in-season break before the season resumes at the Scottish circuit on the 16-18 June.

The Honda rider currently holds the final top six BSB Showdown spot but is just three points above defending champion Shane Byrne in seventh.