Eugene Laverty trails Supersport series leader Kenan Sofuoglu by eight points

Jonathan Rea and Eugene Laverty both took wins in Sunday's World Superbike Championship round at the Nurburgring.

Toomebridge man Laverty maintained his strong challenge for the World Supersport title as he finished .058 seconds ahead of Gino Rea.

Championship leader Kenan Sofuoglo was third but is now only eight points ahead of Laverty in the standings.

Rea led all the way in the re-run of the first Superbike race and then took second in the meeting's other race.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Rea finished 1.12 seconds ahead of Carlos Checa in Sunday's opener and was runner-up in the later race behind Japan's Noriyuki Haga.

The performances keep Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Rea (288) in third place in the championship behind leader Max Biaggi (397), who took fourth and five places on Sunday, and Leon Haslam (339).

Rea has earned four race wins in this year's Championship.

I have the bike, package and team to do it Eugene Laverty

Haslam was one of the riders involved in the crash which caused the opening race to be re-run.

Parkalgar Honda rider Laverty increased his points total to 211 - eight adrift of Turkish rider Sofuoglu.

Laverty's win was his seventh victory in 11 starts in this year's Championships.

The Northern Irishman will clinch the Supersport title if he wins the final two races of the series.

"That's a big ask as Kenan is strong particularly at Imola but with Parkalgar Honda I have the bike, package and team to do it," said Laverty.

Third place Joan Lascorz is likely to miss the remainder of the championship after being injured in a crash at the Silverstone round in early August.

Lascorz sustained four broken ribs, a shoulder and finger injury, and some blood in his lungs, in the serious accident and is still in hospital in Spain.

The Kawasaki star, who won the Spanish WSS round in April and led the world championship at the mid-season point, fell after tangling Laverty on the exit of turn one at the British round, and was then hit in the back by Roberto Tamburini.

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