The Gloucester-based Smiths Racing Triumph had a strong weekend at Oulton Park where they were competing in round seven of the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship and it ended on a high with Billy McConnell taking an excellent second place to take their first podium since Snetterton at the beginning of July.

Defending British champion team-mate Glen Richards and McConnell qualified in fourth and sixth respectively for Saturday's 10-lap Sprint race and the Australian pairing immediately slotted into the top six. Pushing on for a podium position, McConnell slid out of the action on the exit of Hizzys at half race distance which left Glen to fly the flag for the team. Richards was briefly delayed when Jason O'Halloran took to the grass in front of him but it was enough for the leading trio to make a break and Glen had to settle for fifth at the chequered flag taking the consolation of setting the second fastest lap of the race.

Sunday's longer 15-lap Feature race was yet another hectic encounter and at some stages only one second separated the top eight riders and both Billy and Glen were in the midst of the action. As the race entered its second half, Billy began to utilise an outside line around Shell Oils Corner and on the penultimate lap he seized second which he was able to keep until the chequered flag, just missing the race win by less than half a second. Team-mate Richards was a second further back in fifth after another hard fought race.

Billy McConnell:  "It's great to bounce back after a disappointing result on Saturday and I knew I had the pace to get on the podium this weekend. The bike's working well with the new parts and whilst it's still no victory, we're getting closer. We've all had time to think a lot more about what we're doing this year and that could be seen in me using some distinctive lines but you have to do what you can to overtake and get to the front!"

Glen Richards:  "Whilst I'm disappointed not to get my first podium of the season, the shoulder I injured at Knockhill was much better and I was pleased to be in the group battling for the win. The Triumph Daytona 675R is getting stronger all the time and it's only a matter of time before we get it on top of the podium so we'll keep working to that goal."

Rebecca Smith:  "We're all so relieved to get back onto the podium as it seems to have been a long time since we were last there. We've made major steps forward this weekend, both with the work our technicians Jason and JT have done on the engine and also with the new Arrow exhausts which have boosted the confidence of the riders. Billy's ride today was one of the best I've ever seen him have and you only have to look back at May's meeting here to see how far we've improved. Both Billy and Glen have worked incredibly hard this season both with the bike and with themselves, seeing how they can improve, and we're starting to see the benefits now. Glen's chipping away getting consistent results now and we're closer to the front than what we've been all year so we're feeling confident going into the next few rounds."

Despite the DNF on Saturday, McConnell retained his fourth place in the series with Richards dropping one place to seventh in the standings going into the next round at Cadwell Park on August 24/26th.

Motorpoint British Supersport Championship Race 1 - 10 laps1 Stuart Easton (Yamaha)2 Alastair Seeley (Kawasaki)3 Ben Wilson (Kawasaki)4 Jason O'Halloran (Honda)5 Glen Richards (Smiths Racing Triumph)6 Graeme Gowland (Yamaha)DNF Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing Triumph)

Motorpoint British Supersport Championship Race 2 - 15 laps1 Alastair Seeley (Kawasaki)2 Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing Triumph)3 Jason O'Halloran (Honda)4 Stuart Easton (Yamaha)5 Glen Richards (Smiths Racing Triumph)6 Graeme Gowland (Yamaha)

Championship standings (after seven rounds)1 Seeley 295pts2 Easton 2483 Wilson 2054 McConnell 1905 Gowland 1586 O'Halloran 1087 Richards 102