Gregorio Lavilla continued his winning ways in the second round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Thruxton but after easing to a comfortable success in the first of the two races at the Hampshire circuit he was hard-pressed to hold off the close attentions of the reigning title holder Ryuichi Kiyonari in the second.

In that race, the Airwaves Ducati rider had seemingly taken control, accounting for the early leaders Shane Byrne and then Jonathan Rea, to be running clear at the front when the Audi Safety Car was deployed as the Racesafe marshals dealt with a heavy tumble by James Buckingham at the chicane. The Quay Garage Honda rider suffered an ankle injury, while a 20 metre length of safety barrier was dislodged by the impact.

“I lost my rhythm. It was frustrating for me,” said Lavilla as he reflected on his efforts to stay ahead of the pack as the action resumed. “At Brands Hatch when it happened, I had something left, but here there was nothing and I had to try very hard to stay ahead. I was not able to go as fast, and they were slip-streaming me.”

Lavilla kept them at bay, although Kiyonari charged his HM Plant Honda across the line just a tenth of a second down, with former champion Shane Byrne giving his Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport boss Paul Bird an early fortieth birthday treat as he came in a close third.

Earlier in the afternoon, Lavilla had again worked his way through, having been fifth on the opening lap, pegging back first Chris Walker, Byrne, then pole-starter Tommy Hill and finally Rea to be ahead on the seventh lap and then dictating terms from the front.

Behind him, Kiyonari, enjoying his best form of the season, had moved second at half distance but in the closing stages, the Japanese rider found himself under fire, losing ground, as Leon Camier and Byrne charged through, but the factory Honda rider had the final say, grabbing back third place at the final chicane.

Lavilla now leads the championship 100-67 from Camier with Rea and Kiyonari jointly third on 49 points, while in the British Superbike Cup Tom Tunstall, riding the Hardinge Ice Valley Honda heads the title chase having taken third and second placings by 76-75 from Buckingham, the winner of the opening race. Marty Nutt won the second Cup race.

Michael Laverty took his Relentless Suzuki by TAS to a second successive victory in the Maxxis British Supersport Championship while Luke Mossey won the British 125GP Championship race ahead of Luke Jones.

Glen Richards won the second round of the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship from Steve Brogan, while Dean Johnson won the Superstock Cup. BJ Toal won the Virgin Media Cup.

ends.