BURNLEY team FPW Racing secured their first ever podium in the Motostar British Championship on Sunday.

The team are in their second season in the championship, which is a support series to the British Superbike Championship, and new rider Luke Hedger took second place in the second race of the season at Thruxton.

FPW had secured a number of strong results in the Thunder-sport GB series together with previous rider Tom Carne but this was the first time they had finished in the top three since making the step up to the Motostar British Championship.

“It was absolutely fantastic,” said team boss Adrian Mason, from Accrington. “Luke was battling with four riders on the last lap and he came out of the final corner in second place. He is second in the championship and if the luck goes our way then we’ve got every chance of winning it.”

Hedger hails from Bristol and one of those he had been battling with for a podium place was Ryan Watson, who races for Colne outfit Team Colin Appleyard/Macadam Racing. Watson took fourth place with Haslingden’s Carne, now with Team Repli-Cast, in 10th.

Worsthorne’s Harry Hartley was 14th – one place behind Callum Bey, who races for the Burnley-based RCD Motorsport managed by Mark Hodgson, father of former Superbike world champion Neil Hodgson.

The race was the second of the weekend, with the first race of the season – cancelled at Brands Hatch a week earlier because of wet conditions – rearranged for Saturday. Hedger took fourth in that race ahead of Carne in eighth, Hartley in ninth and Bey in 12th. Watson did not complete the race.

Billington’s Ben Rea is competing in the National Superstock 600 Championship this season and took 30th position in their only race of the weekend.