An 'excellent experience' says Lavilla.

Factory Suzuki MotoGP test rider Gregorio Lavilla, standing in for the injured Yukio Kagayama, took a well-deserved third place podium finish in the second race at the sixth round of the British Superbike Championship at Thruxton in Hampshire.

The 30-year-old Spaniard was in contention for the victory for most of the race but fell foul of a back-marker while leading on the 15th lap.

At one of the fastest parts of the circuit, Lavilla found himself stuck behind the slower rider on the racing line and was powerless to react as his rivals overtook him, moving him from first to fifth in the blink of an eye. It took all his skill and courage to climb back to third in the last five-laps, finishing just behind eventual winner, Ducati's Sean Emmett.

Lavilla crossed the finish line first in the opening Superbike race, which was a two-part affair with final positions being calculated over both legs. On corrected time he finished fourth behind winner Michael Rutter.

Wearing a Rizla Suzuki shirt, team friend and Formula One legend Murray Walker took great pride in presenting Lavilla with his prize on the podium in the second race. The team has dedicated this result to Davy Wood, the famous race manager from Northern Ireland who passed away last week after a battle with illness.

"Racing in British Superbikes has been an excellent experience," said Lavilla at the end of an action-packed weekend. "I thought maybe in the second race I could win but a back marker got in the way when I was leading and by the time I overtook him, I was too far behind to get to the front.

"I am pleased with a podium result and for the opportunity to join Rizla Suzuki this weekend but I am very sad that John has an injury. I had planned to try and help him in race two but I could do nothing but stand my bike up on the entry to the chicane when the leading riders slowed so suddenly, and John clipped my bike.

"Thank you to Rizla Suzuki for all its hard work and support, I really hope John can get fit quick enough and challenge for the title, this team deserves to win."

Gary Keogh, Rizla's brand manager, saw non-stop action at Thruxton. "The racing was exciting to watch today and very close at the front, with any one of half a dozen riders in with a chance of winning in both races. Gregorio put in a brilliant performance as a stand-in rider for Yukio Kagayama and proved his class by taking a podium at his first attempt at Thruxton, a notoriously difficult circuit to learn," he said