JENNY Tinmouth hopes to secure her first podium since stepping up into the 600cc class at her home circuit this weekend.

The queen of speed has been steadily improving throughout her debut season in the Fuch-Silkolene Supersport Cup, in which she is the only female rider. And when the British Superbikes circus comes to Oulton Park on Friday, Jenny would love nothing more than to break into the top three.

“I was only half a second off at Snetterton,” said the 30-year-old mechanic from Whitby. “And I am sure I can be quicker, I am very close to the top three now.”

Jenny, the only woman in Britain professionally racing bikes this powerful, currently sits eighth in the cup standings despite her season getting off to a slow start.

But her real ambition this season is to make the podium.

“The bike is great and I am getting faster all the time,” she said. “At Mallory Park two weeks ago I finished in my highest ever position overall in this class, 23rd, and I was seventh in the cup.”

The result came after Jenny had suffered her first big wipeout during the warm-up.

“I high-sided it going into a slow chicane,” said Jenny, who rides a Honda CBR600.

“I never did that in the 125cc class and it was a fun one to get away with.”

When the time came for the race, staying on became a lot harder as the heavens opened.

“We only took intermediate tyres because we thought there would only be showers, but it bucketed down on the grid and we had nothing the change into, so I spent much of the race staying on and hoping others would fall off,” said Jenny.

“Towards the end there was a dry line and I really picked up some speed, but it was way too late. With wets, perhaps that would have been my podium.”

Success at Oulton Park would mean a lot to Jenny. She has signed up more sponsors this season than ever before, including the latest, Keystone Lintels, which has enabled her to compete at her home race by providing funding for a number of elements, including tyres.

“Tyres were the most important thing we needed for Oulton,” said Jenny. “And I’m so glad we got it sorted because I love Oulton. It is my home race and it is also one of the best tracks in the country to race at.

“I just hope that now I am there I can do well.”