Mixed fortunes for Max Biaggi has seen him come away from the latest round of the World Superbike Championship at Donington Park with a season's best result of second – as well as a hairline crack in his foot…

Biaggi proved his single lap performance during Superpole was no fluke as he provided Ben Spies with his sternest competition during the opening race.

The Italian kept the Yamaha rider honest from start to finish and while an electrical gremlin almost prevented him from reaching the finish line on the final lap, Biaggi was thrilled to record his best result yet with the Aprilia team.

“I am very happy with this result after a very hard decision we made in free practice and qualifying,” he said. “Yesterday we found a way to go fast and we made the right choice in tyres and the balance was correct.

“In the warm-up we had some problems but for the race we fixed most of them. Just on the last lap at the last chicane we had some trouble, I don't know what, the bike just stopped and then went back again in the last few metres before the flag. I think I deserved second!”

However, Biaggi's hopes of ending his weekend on a high ended on lap four of the second race when he fell at the Melbourne Hairpin. Picking himself up, Biaggi went on to clash with another rider as he got going and while he remained upright, x-rays later after the race would reveal he had suffered a hairline crack in his right foot.

With three weeks now until the next round at Brno, Biaggi is expected to be fit for the next race nonetheless.