It was smiles all round for Josh Elliott and his Tyco BMW team at Silverstone this weekend as the Ballinamallard man stormed to a deserved podium finish at the Northamptonshire circuit.

Elliott battled his way through from 11th place on the opening lap to pick off the majority of the championship contenders in a display that saw him take the fastest lap and remind the watching, wind-beaten spectators just what he’s capable of.

“I really enjoyed that one,” said Elliott. “It was a long time coming since my return to racing mid-season but despite the limited track time due to weather interrupted sessions I knew we could get the Tyco BMW to work at Silverstone, a world class track.”

The weekend didn’t start favourably for Josh and his team as weather conditions on Friday meant no ideal set-up time for the BMW S1000RR after the steps forward made at Cadwell Park. If the virtual washout on Friday wasn’t enough then Saturday’s Qualifying session had the potential to be even worse as the fickle British weather closed in. Dark clouds were looming across the MotoGP venue and rain was imminent as pit lane opened. Teams up and down pit lane were encouraging their riders to be at Pit Lane exit for as soon as the countdown started as the rains were closing in fast. Four laps was all it took before conditions deteriorated and ninth fastest time for Josh meant a third row start for Sunday afternoon’s race.

Sunday morning Warm Up was cloudy and breezy but most importantly it was dry as Josh took to the circuit. What happened in those eight minutes and four laps set the tone for the day as Josh posted his fastest lap of the weekend and with it the second fastest time of the session.

“Friday started badly with a dud wet tyre which was really scary and the second practice was hit by rain before I could get any rhythm at all, ending my day with only a few laps. Qualifying was tense as I only got one fast lap before getting ran off track the next lap and a torrent of rain came on the next!

“I felt fortunate to manage a ninth place start but warm up the next day let me see the proper potential of our set up and I knew I was in with a fighting chance after being second fastest in the eight minute session,” said Josh.

As the lights went out it was another difficult start for the former Champion, losing two places in to Copse but he managed to regroup quickly to surge through the field.

“I got boxed in on turn one of the race and lost two positions so had to fight from 11th after lap one, but I quickly realised I had the pace in the fast entry corners. It allowed me run fast corner and exit speed which I carried onto the straights. It was very enjoyable using this strategy to slingshot past some very top riders on my way to the front.

“I got a massive slipstream off Danny Buchan and it put me into Michael Rutter’s slipstream so I was able to make up two positions in the one move. The only bike I couldn’t pass was Chrissy Rouse’s BMW. It was just too fast to slipstream and pull out past and he was braking so hard and deep, slowing too much mid turn which meant me nearly hitting him and losing drive off the turns.

“This dropped the lap times I was fit to run and let the pack catch us up as I planned a move on the last lap. I passed Richard Cooper and was on the inside of Chrissy when he pushed too hard, was too deep, lost the front and went down right in front of me. I nearly hit him and it took me a bit wide ending my chance of victory. I couldn’t make the turn and lost drive but managed to salvage second and my first podium this year which I’m obviously delighted about.

“I’ve always said when I get the bike in the window for me I can do this type of performance and I’m glad I was able to repay the team with a podium,” added Elliott.

Despite missing eight races, Josh eased his way in to the top ten in the championship after yesterday’s race and the momentum is set to carry on with back to back races as the Championship reconvenes at Oulton Park next weekend.