Crutchlow is fourth in the British Superbike Championships

Cal Crutchlow of the Louth-based HM Plant Honda team claimed a podium finish on his World Superbike debut at a rain-soaked Donington Park on Sunday.

Riding as a wildcard Crutchlow retired from race one but came second in race two behind former British Superbike champion Ryuichi Kiyonari.

He said: "I'm ecstatic, I felt like I could have caught Kiyonari and won the race but I couldn't get close enough."

Crutchlow's HM Plant Honda team-mate Leon Haslam crashed out of both races.

Ruskington's Rob Frost crashed out of the supersport race after his Team Buff Triumph was hit by another rider, while Alford's Peter Hickman finished just outside the points in the Superstock 1000 race, coming home 16th after a problem with his rear mudguard.

Hickman admitted: "It was trapping in the back wheel which was unnerving to say the least.

"When I realised it was just the mudguard and nothing more sinister I tried to get back into my race, but by then my tyre was shot and I was struggling to run in a straight line."

Meanwhile Lincoln twins Alex and Sam Lowes had by far their best races of the season in Superstock 600.

Alex, who had not scored any points prior to the round, finished second on the O-Six Kawasaki, while Sam, whose previous best was 12th place at Brno in the Czech Republic, came home in sixth on the Azione Corse Honda.