SWINDON youngster Charlie Nesbitt left the latest round of the HEL Motostar Championship at Oulton Park with a fabulous podium finish.

The Scott Redding-backed 14-year-old impressed right across the weekend for his Team Repli-Cast outfit, challenging the front runners during the two qualifying sessions.

Nesbitt posted the second and third fastest times respectively in the two sessions, with only a late crash in the closing minutes of qualifying one and a high side at Lodge corner in qualifying two preventing him from advancing his lap times.

Although he walked away with a bruised knee and hip, his combined efforts saw him third overall, rounding off the front row for Sunday’s race.

Nesbitt got off to a tricky start for the 12-lap contest, spinning off line and arriving sixth into the opening corners. However, he put his Honda-powered Moto3 to work, closing on the nearest riders to claim fifth by the second lap.

As the lap times quickened Nesbitt continued to charge, getting in the mix of a three-bike pack challenging for third.

Nesbitt battled hard over the latter part of the race but his injuries were taking their toll and he eventually crossed the line in third place, collecting 16 championship points to move up to fifth in the standings.

Nesbitt said: “What a weekend. The team worked really hard prepping the bike and from the first session I had amazing feel.

“We managed to improve our lap times with some slight changes to the bike but, unfortunately, I had a massive high side out of Lodge corner and hurt my knee and hip.

“In the race I had an amazing battle with Jake Archer and Dani Saez and finished third. I’m really happy with the result and my lap times.

“Thanks to Simon Whatley at SRS, Warren Bright and Elizabeth Bright at Pacific Naturals, Gary Dawson, Shar Bradford, Richard Slinn, my dad Paul Nesbitt, Heather Matthews, Kevin Matthews, Shark helmets, TCX boots, Furygan leathers, Auritech, Simon Hodgson and to all the marshals, medics and people from the scrutineering bay for all their help this weekend.”

The next round of the HEL Motostar Championship for the Repli-Cast UK Racing team will be at the TT Circuit in Assen, Holland on September 18-20.