Michel Fabrizio says he is 'very sorry' to have fallen during the second World Superbike race at Magny-Cours, insisting that he should have been on hand to take points away from team-mate Noriyuki Haga's title rival Ben Spies.

Having set the pace in practice and provisional qualifying, Fabrizio would endure a disappointing race day around the French circuit after being unable to get amongst the leaders on either occasion.

Hampered by being held up behind Leon Haslam in the early stages of race one, while Fabrizio would go on to finish in fourth position, it was the result that officially confirmed his slim title hopes are officially over.

Looking for better in race two, a poor start from third left Fabrizio towards the bottom end of the top ten, but despite quickly making up ground to be running sixth by lap four, a mistake at the hairpin would see him come tumbling down.

Although he jumped back on the Ducati Xerox to recover to 13th position, Fabrizio was frustrated with the outcome, suggesting that he would have stood a chance at taking vital points away from an ailing Spies had he not been fallen.

“Obviously I'm very disappointed by my results today,” said Fabrizio, who nonetheless, cemented third in the standings with his efforts. “I hoped to do a lot better. In race one I wasn't able to catch the leading group and finished in fourth which isn't bad but I would have liked to be on the podium.

My bad start in the second race conditioned the outcome, I tried to catch up quickly so as not to lose the leaders as I'd done in race one but unfortunately I messed up my braking at the end of the straight and lost the front.

“I am very sorry because I think I could have got past Spies, giving Nori a couple more points. My compliments go to Nori because he was very strong today and deserved the win.”

Fabrizio has already courted controversy following his win at Imola last weekend, one that cost second place Haga a potentially vital five points.