Eugene Laverty takes podium at Donington World Superbike round

Eugene Laverty

Eugene Laverty secured third position in the second of the day's World Superbike races at Donington Park.

The Aprilia rider from Toomebridge won the battle for the final podium place, having finished seventh in race one.

Jonathan Rea was fourth in the first race but had to settle for 11th in the next race and is seventh in the series.

Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli leads the championship on 173 points, followed by double Donington race winner Tom Sykes on 169 and Laverty third on 149.

Pata Honda rider Rea was a winner at the Donington Park round last year and the Isle of Man-based man from Ballyclare started fourth on the grid after posting a blistering late lap on Saturday.

He occupied second spot for much of the opening race but fell back in the latter stages as Sykes won from Marco Melandri and Guintoli.

Laverty, who had qualified third fastest, was disappointed with his performance in the first race, but made amends in his second outing.

"I'm just happy to be on the podium after race one. We still need a little more from the bike, but I'm looking forward to the next round at Portimao now," said Laverty.

Dublin's Jack Kennedy was sixth in the World Supersport race and now lies ninth in the championship standings.