NORTHWICH rider Connor Behan matched a lifetime best finish in the Metzeler Superstock 600 National Championship at Thruxton on Monday.

He finished in third place.

“I’m made up,” he said afterwards.

“To be honest it’s my own fault I didn’t finish second, but that’s racing I suppose.”

Behan, 19, briefly led the 12-laps sprint after starting from the front row on the grid for the third time in four attempts this season.

But points leader Keith Farmer (Farmer Racing Yamaha) sped past at the second corner before going on to claim a third successive victory.

That left the Barnton ace, on board Team Green’s Kawasaki, to battle with Josh Wainwright (Aye Gee Suzuki) and James East (East Racing Yamaha) for a place on the podium.

He pinched second off the former on the penultimate circuit only for his rival to reverse the move at the same place on the following lap.

“It was a battle all the way because the grip kept coming off my handlebar and I was twisting it back into place,” he added.

“I would have preferred to be second, but I just couldn’t hang on into the last corner.”

Behan, who climbs to third position in the riders’ standings behind Farmer and East as a reward, claimed one third-place finish in his debut season last year.