Kevin Windham's experience and mud riding skills paid off in Daytona. Image: Simon Cudby.

GEICO Honda’s Kevin Windham celebrated his long-awaited first podium of the 2012 season, taking third place in the sloppy conditions at the Daytona AMA Supercross round.

As the rain came down Windham knew he had a good shot at it, the silky smooth veteran with over 200 main event starts is known to be excellent in the mud and he did not dissapoint.

“It was a good night. I was excited from the time the rain came and I thought we had a good shot at it,” Windham told Racer X.

“Behind the gate, things were going well. I was in a decent position. Davi [Millsaps] and me were just kind of cruising along. There was really a tight gap between all three of us, just kind of waiting on anybody to make a mistake.

“It was real wet in some of those roller sections and Davi got blasted by a lapper right after I got blasted by both of them. It was funny. It was just like a weight in water and mud all over us. And these are the kind of races where anything can happen.

“The team worked really hard to get us out there today and get us on the podium. First one of the season, so it feels good.”

Windham sits fourth overall in the points standings as the series rolls into Indianapolis for the 11th round of the series.