JAMES Ellison admitted it was a weekend of mixed emotions as he got his British Superbike Championship campaign off to a winning start before battery problems denied him a second spot on the podium at Donington Park.

The 34-year-old from Kendal, looking for his first title, got off to the perfect start by winning race one - a first ever victory for JG Speedfit Kawasaki team.

But battery problems leading up to race two saw Ellison start from the back of the grid and he had to settle for 12th place.

He currently lies third overall after the first two races with 29 points, 16 behind leader and four-time champion Shane Byrne of PBM Kawasaki who was second in the first race behind Ellison before winning the second race.

Dan Linfoot is lying in second place on 33 points.

Ellison, who is starting his sixth full British Superbike campaign, was delighted with the victory but knew it was a weekend of 'what-ifs'.

“It’s certainly has been a mix of highs and lows, but to be walking away having taken GBmoto and JG Speedfit’s first ever BSB win is amazing," said Ellison.

"The team really deserve it too, so a big thanks to them for their support – especially Mark Smith-Halvorsen who stuck by me last year through the accident.

"It’s so frustrating to have missed the opportunity to challenge for a second win in race two though, the bike starts on a slave battery but every time we removed it the bike would die. It meant we had to replace it, but that requires us removing the fairings, seat and tank from the machine and despite the whole garage helping out, we just couldn’t do it time.

"Starting from the back wasn’t ideal, particularly with the size of the grid, and fighting through just takes time. We still scored points though so we can’t be too disappointed.”

Ellison showed why he could be in the mixed for that elusive first title when he headed off four-time MCE Insurance British Superbike Champion Byrne to win the first race of the opening round at Donington Park.

Byrne had grabbed the early lead in the first race, but after the intervention of the Nissan GTR Safety Car as marshal’s dealt with Ralf lo Turco’s crash, Ellison forced his JG Speedfit Kawasaki into the lead.

Byrne was trying to repay the move, but there was no way ahead of the Cumbrian who took his first race win in two years by 0.131s and Kawasaki’s first in the championship at the Leicestershire circuit since 1999.

Josh Brookes on the all-new Milwaukee Yamaha was third place.

But Ellison’s hopes of a repeat performance in race two were thwarted by a flat battery which caused him to miss the sighting lap period and because of that an enforced start at the back of the grid. He put in a determined performance to charge through the pack to salvage a twelfth place finish.

Byrne took advantage to win but only after a running scrap with but Linfoot who had to settle for second place. Stuart Easton was third.

Ellison will be hoping those battery problems are behind him as he heads to Brands Hatch fully charged for the next round in two weeks time.

Race one:

1: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki)

2: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +0.131s

3: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +9.112s

4: Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +9.170s

5: Peter Hickman (RAF Reserves BMW) +11.276s

6: Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) +16.139s

Race two:

1: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)

2: Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +0.589s

3: Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) +1.331s

4: Peter Hickman (RAF Reserves BMW) +3.343s

5: Christian Iddon (Bennetts Suzuki) +4.239s

6: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +5.327s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings:

1: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) 45

2: Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) 33

3: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 29

4: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 26

5: Peter Hickman (RAF Reserves BMW) 24

6: Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) 219