Michael Rutter took a winning double to move ahead in the chase for the Bennetts British Superbike crown in an incident packed third round at Mallory Park.

The HM Plant Honda grabbed the initiative after his previously unbeaten team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari crashed heavily out of the action on the sixth lap of the opening race, as he braked into the left-hander of the chicane.

Kiyonari, who had shattered the lap record to claim his second pole start, escaped serious injury, but now faces a race against time to be fit for the fourth round at Oulton Park on Holiday Monday - the 22 year old Japanese rider was heading the action just ahead of Rutter when disaster struck.

“I was pushing him hard, hoping he might make a mistake, but not for that to happen,” said Rutter who was told that his team-mate was conscious and sitting talking to staff in the circuit's medical centre.

Rutter held off heavy pressure from Hawk Kawasaki rider Glen Richards to take the victory, and they were scrapping for supremacy in the afternoon's second race that was run in three parts.

The first stoppage came as officials dealt with a heavy crash involving Tommy Hill and Danny Beaumont at Devil's Elbow, and then they had to deal with oil sprayed onto the track from a blown engine.

Richards made Rutter work for his second victory, but the Honda rider who lives adjacent to the circuit held on: “I'll be having a few drinks to celebrate tonight - I've never known so many stoppages but we still got some decent races in and I just had that little bit more speed than Glen.”

Rutter leads 119-100 over Kiyonari, with Gregorio Lavilla, confirmed as an Airwaves Ducati rider for the remainder of the season third, third on 88 points - the Spaniard recovering after a first race tumble with Karl Harris to grab third place next time out.

Danny Beaumont was the first race winner in the British Superbike Cup, finishing ahead of Steve Brogan, James Buckingham and Chris Martin, while in the second race Brogan took the honours, finishing ahead of Martin to open a 12 point lead in the series.

Defending British 125cc Champion Christian Elkin took a second successive victory to tighten his grip on the crown while Aussie Paul Young, whose team is based at the circui took a popular win in the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship race.

Brendan Roberts became the third winner in as many races in the Virgin Mobile Cup, while Leon Camier, despite a heavy tumble during qualifying, hit back to beat Tom Sykes in the Metabo British Supersport Championship race.