A series of mechanical problems saw Hodson make the switch from Honda to Yamaha just last week.
And it was a move which paid instant rewards for the new partnership on their first outing at Oulton Park on Saturday.
"We were still working on the bike's set up late into Friday evening to have it ready for race day," said Ant.
"It was my first time out on the TSM-backed Yamaha TZ250 and I was looking forward to seeing what the bike could do on a track I'm familiar with."
Ant was out on the tarmac early for free practice on Saturday morning and used the session to get a good feel for his new ride's handling.
"The Yamaha felt very different at first but after a few laps, I started to get a good feel," Ant added.
After a few slight adjustments to the bike's set up, Ant went out for timed practice.
He settled in well for the first few laps and then started to pick up the pace as his confidence grew, earning a highly respectable fifth fastest qualifying time in a grid of Britain's best talent.
Weather conditions were perfect for the race as Ant lined up on the second row for the ten lap race.
The Gainsborough-based joiner got off to a poor start, struggling with the clutch to get the bike off the line, and entering the first corner in tenth.
Ant immediately began pushing hard on his new TSM-backed TZ250 and took three positions on lap one, and then another two over the next two laps.
Now lying in fifth, Ant worked hard to try to close down the gap on the leading pack but they had already got too big a cushion to pull in.
With only two laps remaining, Ant had created a comfortable ten second gap on sixth position and finished the race in fifth.
Ant said afterwards: "Team manager, Dave Parman, and I are really happy with such a good first result on the TSM-backed Yamaha TZ250.
"It was a good test and gave me chance to get to know the bike. I was also lapping a full three seconds faster at the circuit than my best time at Oulton Park on the Honda RS250."
Ant is now feeling very confident going into the last British Championship round at Thruxton on 4 October 2008.