Eugene Laverty finishes third in World Superbike race
Last updated on .From the section Motorsport
Eugene Laverty has moved up to third in the World Superbike standings after securing third and fifth place finishes in Sunday's two races at Magny Cours.
The Toomebridge rider led race one until the 10th lap but fell back to fifth, with Ducati racer Carlos Checa winning to secure the championship.
Laverty also led race two at one stage but ended up third, Checa winning.
Jonathan Rea started from pole position but crashed out of race one, before retiring midway through race two.
The Castrol Honda rider from Ballyclare lost the front end of his machine going through the final chicane in the first event.
Rea, who was the early leader of race two, occupies 12th position in the championship after failing to win any points.
Checa's race double took his number of victories for the season to 14.
Ahead of the final round of races at Portimao in two weeks' time, Checa has 467 points, Marco Melandri 260, Yamaha rider Laverty 283 and Max Biaggi 281.
