Josh Elliott secured his first race victory of the season with a dramatic last corner surge to the front at Oulton Park on Saturday. 
The Ballinamallard rider has endured a frustrating season to date but put in his best performance of the season last weekend, and was in the right place to capitalise on a late collision and race through to take the chequered flag in the latest round of the British Superstock 1000 Championship.
“It’s amazing to win again,” said Josh, who has gone since October 2015 without topping the podium. 
“As the weekend went on I felt that the bike was getting better and the feeling was giving me a lot of confidence that I could challenge for the win. 
“It was after second qualifying that I thought it really might be on.
“It felt more like the bike I had last year. 
“It was a steady improvement throughout the weekend and come the race I was in a good spot to challenge for the win.”
It had looked like his hopes of success would be ended before the action had begun when he picked up a slight neck injury that restricted his movement.
 In the week leading up to the race there was a real possibility that he would be unfit to compete, but Josh was determined to get out on the track. 
“The physio and the specialist said I couldn’t race so I just went there really as a test on the first session just to see what I felt like,” he explained. 
“It wasn’t comfortable and it was sore but it wasn’t enough to not let me ride so we continued on for the weekend.”
A good qualifying session put him near the front of the grid, and although Taylor Mackenzie was the early pace setter, Josh went past him on lap two and held the lead until lap ten when Tyco BMW teammate Ian Hutchinson forced his way past. 
With Hutchinson and Taylor Mackenzie battling for Championship points Josh was content to do what he could to try and assist his teammate, Hutchinson. 
“I thought I would try to get in between Hutchy and Taylor and help him out in the championship,” he said. 
“Taylor then came past me and although I was trying to get past him it wasn’t going to work. 
“They were so close that I knew if I came past there was a chance I might touch Hutchy so I was sitting behind waiting. 
“Taylor made his move on the last corner and he turned in much the same way he did against me at Knockhill earlier on in the year. 
“He gave Hutchy no room and they collided.
“I had put myself in the best position to take advantage and fortunately I was there to come across the line and take the chequered flag in first.”
The victory has given Josh a timely confidence boost with three races of the season remaining, and he is hopeful he can finish the season on a high. 
“It would be great to get another win before the end of the year,” he said. “The improvements we have made to the bike really showed in the race and I have more confidence in myself so I’m really looking forward to Donnington this weekend.”