Robbie Bugden is eyeing a strong finish to the season and a Suzuki 1-2. Image: Toby Lynch.

Team Volvo Group Suzuki’s Robbie Bugden is aiming to secure a 1-2 overall finish for the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) factory effort after registering another overall podium finish at Hidden Valley.

Despite not testing with the team prior to the first point-scoring outing in Tasmania, the Brisbane-based rider has quickly established himself as a regular contender for the top step of the podium and recorded breakthrough race and round wins at his home event at Queensland Raceway.

Bugden headed to last week’s Darwin round locked on points with title hopeful, Next Gen Motorsport’s Glenn Allerton, and fourth and second place finishes have moved him into second overall, four points clear of his BMW rival.

The results were achieved despite Bugden missing considerable track time in a practice crash on Friday.

“It was an up-and-down weekend,” Bugden said. “I made a mistake on Friday in practice, crashed out and missed that whole session, so we were on the back foot after that.

“We had two pretty strong races though, even if I did run off in the first race.”

He admitted he was not a match for his teammate in terms of pace at round six but is still confident of securing Suzuki the top two placings in the 2013 championship with just one round to run.

“The showing was better in the second race and I was able to lead for a few laps, but unfortunately we didn’t quite have the speed of Wayne this weekend,” Bugden admitted.

“Still, we’re second in the championship now and the aim is to firm-up a Suzuki 1-2 for the season.”

He sits 31 points shy of teammate Maxwell ahead of the series finale at Phillip Island on 4-6 October.

Four riders remain in mathematical contention for the 2013 ASBK crown – Maxwell (224 points), Bugden (193), Allerton (189) and Team Honda’s Jamie Stauffer (180).