Moto Rapido Ducati’s Scott Smart scored a double British Superbike Evo podium at Knockhill yesterday, taking third place in the opening race and then going one better in the afternoon’s second outing.

Smart showed good pace during free practice and qualifying, which were all in wet conditions, but come Sunday the heavens remained shut and both races were held on a dry track. Race one saw the 36-year-old Maidstone rider get a good start and give the full-spec Superbike men a hard time but a small error dropped him down the order at the end. He was still over the moon with third place as there was no dry weather data to use for the race so he and the team were using best guesses.

In the second leg, Smart fought his way into the Evo class lead, and close to the overall top ten, but lost his rhythm mid-race and couldn’t find a way past Dan Linfoot’s non-Evo machine. Simon Andrews found a passing place at McIntyre’s and got past them. Smart eventually passed the young Yorkshireman but ran out of laps to chase down Andrews, who took the win. It was also a good 35th birthday present for his sister, Paula.

“It was easily the best weekend we have had so far and I should have won the second race. I just lost my way mid-race and then I just could not find a way past Dan Linfoot. The only place it was close was where his full Superbike had the advantage over our Evo bike but I got past eventually,” said Smart.

“By then, Simon had gone. I’m kind of ruing that mistake but two trophies and big bag of points is a great result for the whole team and me. It makes the long drive here and back worth it.”