Local favourite Bradley Ray just missed out on a podium spot to lose the lead in the standings as the British Superbikes Championship resumed at Brands Hatch at the weekend.

In front of a record crowd, RICH Energy OMG Racing Yamaha rider Ray bagged more important points with three fourth places in his bid to secure a top-eight spot for this season's Showdown rounds, which begin in September.

The Lydd racer, however, admitted his team need to find some extra pace after new championship leader McAMS Yamaha's Jason O'Halloran won the sprint race and his team-mate, Tarran Mackenzie, took wins in races two and three with O'Halloran second.

Ray now trails O'Halloran by 10 points.

“I feel like this weekend I’ve ridden as hard as I have all year so to come away with three fourths is a little bit frustrating, but it’s points on the board and points for the showdown," he said.

"Obviously, podium credits are the main thing for me, but we need to just find out what we’re missing against the other two Yamahas at the minute and take the fight to them as best we can.”

Finishing third after Saturday's qualifying sessions, Ray held firm until a hard-charging Tommy Bridewell edged the Kent rider on his Ducati for the final podium place.

Sunday’s temperatures rose and race two began well for Ray, who led early on before the two McAMS Yamahas made their decisive moves.

An epic final few laps unfolded with the hometown hero trying everything he knew to haul his Yamaha R1 onto the podium, but once again it was agonisingly close at the flag as Bridewell repeated his sprint race result.

The final race of the weekend was almost a replay of race two as once again Ray found himself in the podium mix. This time, though, Honda's Glenn Irwin thwarted his efforts.

The championship moves on to Thruxton on August 12-14.