SCOTT REDDING'S love affair with Donington Park continued as he sealed a podium place by finishing third in the British Grand Prix.

It was the best finish of the season for the 16-year-old Quedgeley racer, who became the youngest ever MotoGP winner when he crossed the line first at Donington last year.

After failing to impress in practice, Redding had to make do with 11th place on the grid with British rival Bradley Smith in pole position for the 125cc event.

But the talented teenager, who showed his class by rising through the field to sixth, excelled in a restarted sprint after wet weather curtailed the end of the first race.

"It feels as good as winning did last year," said Redding. "I had struggled all weekend and when the race was red flagged I wasn't happy as I didn't want to lose sixth place.

"But when I came in for the second part my team said that as there were only five laps left I had nothing to lose, so it was do or die."

Championship leader Julian Simon emerged victorious in the five-lap sprint for glory with the Spaniard edging Simon Corsi of Italy into second.

But Redding made an unlikely push for the podium from 11th on the grid and the Blusens Aprilia rider had a great first section of the race.

Rainfall 11 laps from the scheduled end of the 25-lap showdown led to the race being re-started, but Redding's surge meant he had moved up to the second row of the grid for the 'second race'.

He held his nerve as the rain came again to take a brilliant top three place on his home circuit in the final 125cc race at Donington.

Fellow Brit Smith had taken the lead after the re-start but crashed out on the wet track and Marc Marquez fell to the same fate when he was leading the race two laps later.

But steady Redding stayed in control and he was overjoyed with a finishing position that puts him back inside the top 10 of the championship standings.

"A few people crashed out, which helped, but I'm delighted with a podium at my home Grand Prix," he said.

● Donington picture special, P36