Linfoot led the series after winning at Assen in his previous race

Knaresborough's Dan Linfoot slipped to third place in the European Superstock Championship after suffering engine problems in round three in Italy.

The 19-year-old Yorkshireman saw his first engine blow up as he acquainted himself with the Monza circuit.

A new supply of spare engines is now being arranged for Beowulf Racing.

He said: "That forced me to ride my only remaining bike for the second weekend. And on the second session on that weekend that engine blew as well."

Although disappointed, Linfoot was philosophical about his bad luck. "It could have turned out a lot worse. If I'd have, for example, fallen off and broken a leg or something like that then I'd have been out for an even longer amount of time," he added.

I've just got to concentrate on the next couple of races and try to pull the lead back Dan Linfoot

"Everyone including myself has put maximum effort into getting the championship lead and it was the first time that the team had won a race [at Assen], never mind led a championship.

"When you can't start a race it does give the team a bit of a bad image as well. It is really disappointing but now that's done with I've just got to concentrate on the next couple of races and try to pull the lead back."

Linfoot and Beowulf Racing's most pressing priority is to ensure they do not miss further races.

He added: "We're going to get a new supply of spare engines for the team because it's been such a catastrophic failure with them.

"We've got a two-day test at an Italian circuit called Mizano. We'll have to get the engines bedded in and get them set up to the maximum speed for us in time for the next race."