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Earlier this season, Martin Cardenas made headlines by becoming the first Colombian rider to score points in the World Supersport Championship, courtesy of his eighth position at the new Chang International Circuit in Thailand. Since then, the CIA Landlords Insurance Honda rider, contesting his first season in the category, has scored in six other races and become a regular fixture towards the front.

At Sepang, the last race before the summer break, the 33-year-old from Medellin achieved his best result to date, with a seventh place. He now takes time out to share the latest with WorldSBK.com.

Martin, how satisfied are you with your progress on the Honda CBR600RR?
I came to World Supersport, not only with the idea of scoring points but of clinching good results. I have found the level to be very high; I must admit that I thought it would be a little less than it is, but there is certainly a lot of competition! In the more recent races, Misano and Malaysia, I have taken a small step forward and have been closer to the kind of results I have wanted to achieve this season.

With three races to go you are 11th in the standings, but only five points behind eighth place. What do you reckon you can do at Jerez, Magny-Cours and Losail?
Right from the beginning, I have not paid too much attention to the points at the end of races. I go race by race and try my best at each round. The idea is to finish fourth or fifth in a race…that would be great and that’s what I’m trying to achieve. I do think that could be possible at these last three races.

Jerez is a circuit I know, although it’s been quite a long time since I last raced there. I know Magny-Cours (from his 2014 wildcard appearance) and Losail too, so I definitely hope to pick up some good results in France and Qatar.

At the start of the year you talked about the need to improve the base setup of your Honda in order to be able to challenge more at the front. Have you been able to do that?
Yes, as the team has plenty of data from past years for all of the circuits. Then again, every rider has his own style and likes to adjust the bike to suit himself. I do now think we have found a good base for each race track. At the last few races we have been able to refine it further and so I have felt very comfortable with the setup. I think the end of the season could be very good.

Do you have the feeling that, with a more competitive frame, you could be fighting at the head of the field more regularly? Is that what you aspire to?
I think the bike I have now is competitive, although at the moment it’s not a bike with which we can win – there are about five riders with superior bikes. The chance of having a winning bike? I’m not sure there will be this year. Judging by results so far, the answer would have to be no. However, I do hope to do well at these last three races and to be in the position I want; then we will see whether there is the chance to get one of those bikes. It’s tricky. We’ll have to wait and see.

It appears as though your plans for 2016 are yet to be decided. Will you be continuing with the CIA Landlords Insurance Honda team?
I don’t have anything finalised yet, neither with this team nor another. I’m waiting to see what happens at these last three races. I think the outcome of that will depend a lot on what happens for the future.