Kyle Smith made an immediate impact on his debut ride in World Supersport at Australia’s Phiilip Island circuit – finishing fourth.

The 23-year-old from Fenay Bridge, who has lived in Spain from the age of seven, was denied a podium place in his first ride for Pata Honda in the World Superbikes series by a mere 300ths of a second from taking third place.

In a dogfight with Gino Rea, on the CIA Landlords Insurance Honda, it was only a matter of centimetres that pushed Smith back into fourth as he produced an impressively fearless performance on his first visit to the Australian venue.

Despite falling in qualifying, Smith managed to secure fifth place and a slot on the second row of the grid.

But from the word go he ensured that the leaders knew that he was going to push them all the way.

“It feels really good, it was a change of track, a new bike and a new team,” smiled rookie Smith.

“I put pressure on myself to do well and I have a winning bike and I like to win, so all season we are just going to push hard and go for it.

“I had a really good start and paced myself early on to look after the tyre.

“A couple of riders passed me but I knew that I had better race pace than them, so I wasn’t too worried.

“I held on and tried to keep with the leading group and, as the race unfolded, a couple of people dropped off, which I was expecting. “

Huddersfield racer Kyle Smith (left) with Pieter Breddels the Pata Honda technical co-ordinator

In the 18-lap opener Jules Cluzel, of MV Agusta Reparto Corse, came out victorious ahead of his new teammate Lorenzo Zanetti and ahead of WSS returnee Rea.

“Cluzel and Zanetti pulled away a bit because they’ve had better tyre life than everyone all weekend,” added Smith.

“But I think that’s just this track and hopefully at the next few circuits we’ll be a little closer to them.

“Then it was just the two Brits battling it out until the last lap – and he beat me.

“There’s not much I can say about that, except that I’ll try to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“There’s nothing like standing on that box after a full weekend of work, but, not only was it the other Brit, not only the other Honda, but it was three hundredths of a second.

“But I’m not going to cry about it, because it’s game on!”