STRONG performances in the two superbike races at Cadwell Park have strengthened Dean Ellison's hopes of finishing third overall in this season's Privateers British Superbike Championship.

Riding the Bradgate Containers backed Honda VTR 1000-SP1, Dean took third and fourth places in the two races held at the meeting to put him within seven points of taking third overall in the championship with four rounds remaining.

Dean started both races from the fourth row of the grid and he was left with his work cut out to find a way through the pack.

True to form Dean took the first couple of laps to settle into the pace and then began to pick off the opposition.

In the early laps of race two, Dean found himself in a six-way scrap where positions changed at almost every corner.

But the sheer speed of the Honda down the long back straight enabled him to battle past the competition.

At the flag he took third place ahead of John Crawford and Jamie Robinson, both of whom are backed by factory teams.

"I really enjoy riding the bike now the team has got it to handle properly," said Dean after the meeting.

"I just wish I'd ridden it a bit harder.

In both races I got baulked on the first lap and that meant I'd a lot of work to do to get past slower riders.

"To beat Jamie and John is good, but really my aim is to be the first privateer and I had the opportunity to do that today had I got on the case sooner."

The team now has three days to strip and rebuild Dean' s bike before heading off to the next championship round at Brands Hatch this weekend.