ANDOVER teen racer Jake Archer continued his impressive start to the season with another podium place at Oulton Park.

The 16-year-old competed in the second round of the Motostar British Championship on the City Lifting Moto3 bike over the Bank Holiday weekend, finishing third to record his second podium place in three races.

Having finished on the podium in one of the two races at Silverstone, Archer was keen to repeat that at Oulton Park which was only a single race event.

Free practice one took place on the Saturday morning.

Shortly after starting it began to rain and in wet conditions Jake Archer managed to register the sixth quickest time a 2:05.285.

Archer managed to slash his lap time to 1:50.820 but this was only good enough for ninth position.

The Sunday saw Archer compete in the two qualifying sessions to establish the grid for the British Motostar race on the Monday.

It rained for the first 25-minute qualifying session.

Bearing in mind that conditions were forecast to improve for Q2 Archer took it sensibly and finished the session in 13th spot.

The forecasters were right and the conditions were better for the second qualifying session with a narrow dry line forming around the circuit.

Because of the improved conditions, any error would prove costly as lap times would be far superior to Q1.

Jake Archer set about his task calmly, steadily improving his lap time each time round the circuit.

After coming into the pits for some fresh rubber Archer continued to improve his lap times, setting his best time on the final flying lap, a 1:51.528.

This meant that Jake would start from P5 and in the middle of the second row for the race.

As the 14-lap race got under way Archer made a clean start and was running in third position in the early stages. He then slipped to fourth place as the eventual race winner overtook him.

Undeterred he kept calm and knowing his limits and those of the bike he continued to improve the lap times.

Ahead of him two of the riders appeared to have been pushing a bit too hard as they fell in separate incidents.

Archer was then left to try and fend off Josh Owens as the Merseyside rider began to push him hard in the second half of the race.

Whilst Owens managed to overtake Archer he couldn’t break away from the Andover rider.

Although unable to find a way back past Archer crossed the line in third position just a one hundredth of a second behind Owens to claim a second podium finish after just three races of the season.

After the race Archer said: “Today I didn’t have the speed to get away with the front three, but luckily I’m on the podium.

“When Josh [Owens] came past me it kicked me into gear to push and try and stay with him to see if I could get second, but I didn’t quite have the pace to get there.”

Next up: Brands Hatch Indy on the weekend of May 20.