Michael Laverty secures British Superbike win at Knockhill

Michael Laverty

Michael Laverty took victory in race two at the fifth round of the British Superbike championship at Knockhill.

The Samsung Honda rider overhauled runner-up Shane Byrne and third-place finisher Tommy Hill.

The Toomebridge man had finished third in race one and lies fourth in the championship standings ahead of the next round at Oulton Park on 8 July.

Clogher rider Keith Farmer won the Superstock 1000cc race and enjoys a three-point lead in that series.

Byrne won Superbike race one, with Hill second and Tyco TAS Suzuki rider Josh Brookes fourth.

Australian Brookes took another fourth place in race two while his team-mate, Carrickfergus rider Alastair Seeley, was seventh in both outings.

Seeley stands seventh in the championship, behind Moira rider Ian Lowry, who crashed out of race one and was 10th in race two.

Hill leads on 159 points, with Byrne six points behind, Brookes on 150 and Laverty on 122.

"We made a few changes after the first race and they allowed me to push harder and gave me more confidence," said Laverty after his success.

"I passed Shane and Tommy and was then able to pull away - we've put the doldrums of the early rounds behind us and are right back in contention now."

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider Farmer beat Jimmy Storrar into second place in the Superstock 1000 and now has 95 points, with Jason O'Halloran on 92 and Storrar third on 91.

Dubliner Jack Kennedy was second and third in the British Supersport races on his Mar-Train Yamaha, while Glenn Irwin had a 10th place.