Eugene Laverty edges out Jonathan Rea for World Superbike win

Eugene Laverty finished second in both races

Eugene Laverty edged out fellow Northern Ireland rider Jonathan Rea in Portugal to take his first World Superbike win this season.

Toomebridge man Laverty came in just 0.16 seconds ahead of Ballyclare's Rea in the second race at Portimao.

Rea, who has signed a new deal with Honda, finished sixth in Sunday's opener with Laverty back in 13th.

Rea lies fourth in the championship standings with Aprilla rider Laverty 19 points behind in fifth.

Laverty surged clear in the second race but Rea applied late pressure to make it a battle to the line, while series leader Max Biaggi completed the podium.

Tom Sykes won the first race ahead of Carlos Checa and Sylvain Guintoli.

Meanwhile Michael Laverty dropped to fifth position in the British Superbike standings after securing two seventh places in the latest round of the British Superbike championship at Assen.

Ian Lowry had 14th and 17th place finishes while Alastair Seeley was 19th and 20th.

Shane Byrne and Josh Brookes, who now leads the series for the Tyco Suzuki team, were the race winners at the Dutch circuit.

Glenn Irwin from Carrickfergus wrapped up the British Supersport Cup title after finishing eighth and sixth in the two races.

Dubliner Jack Kennedy continues to lead the British Supersport championship on the Mar-Train Yamaha.