Dan Linfoot “likely” to extend Honda Racing British Superbikes contract

Linfoot revealed discussions with the team were taking place before the season finale at Brands Hatch, and it was “looking likely” that he would swerve opportunities on offer elsewhere.

With just one race weekend of the 2015 calendar still to come, Linfoot lies fifth in the BSB championship showdown, despite breaking his wrist in the second round of races.

A lack of consistency with his Honda machine has frustrated Linfoot throughout the season but he has managed to make the podium on four occasions.

Despite worries that the bike could fall behind rivals next year, the 27-year-old admitted it would be hard to leave the team.

On the prospect of a new deal, Linfoot said: “It’s looking likely, it’s something we will be discussing from now and before the next race.

“At this time of year, there’s a lot of discussions, everyone is discussing with anyone.

“I have had discussions with other people but I have to wait and see what’s going to be food for me long term.

“Honda is a great place to race. It’s a fantastic team and offers a lot of positives but the machine is quite a bit older this year.

“Next year will be the last with the current model, which might mean it is quite difficult.”

Linfoot roared back on to the podium at the penultimate race meeting of the season at Silverstone on Sunday as he left himself a window of opportunity to place fourth in the championship.

After a solid result in race one finishing seventh, Linfoot started the final race from second place on the grid and was one of the front-runners from the early stages.

An electrifying race unfolded and the 27-year-old was pushing hard for the second place spot in the closing stages with Michael Laverty.

The penultimate lap saw the pair trade positions three times, but Laverty edged ahead and Linfoot crossed the line in third.

Laverty holds a 19-point advantage over Linfoot in fourth in the championship standings ahead of the final three-race event at Brands Hatch.

But Linfoot took confidence from his resurgence from a difficult first ‘showdown’ weekend at Assen, and was hopeful of surmounting the gap at one of his favoured tracks.

Linfoot said: “It’s mega to be back on the podium. That’s what we go racing for, to fight for those results.

“Now there’s one round left and we will go to that on a high.”

He added: “We don’t go racing to finish fourth in the championship but taking into account the injury, to finish fourth would be an improvement. After the year we have had, it shows that I am improving.

“It’s been a tougher championship this year, so that shows I am progressing as a rider. My aim is still to try and win BSB in the future.”