One-hundred-and-sixty-seven year-old Chris Walker was back on the podium top step at the Brands Hatch Bennetts British Superbike round after a ding-dong with fellow veteran John McGuinness in the Ducati TriOptions Cup.

Changeable conditions made it a tough tyre choice for teams and Walker led for most of the race after a wrong tyre choice saw championship leader Josh Day, dominant in race one, moved uncharacteristically backwards.

McGuinness was closing in on Walker during the final laps but was unlucky with backmarkers. The TT legend finished just 0.771s behind Walker, claiming his maiden Ducati Cup podium in second place.

“Mega. Last minute change of tyres on the line using a bit of wily old fox experience, the same as John. The young guys at the front are going real quick and you’ve got to use opportunities like this to use your experience to get on the podium,” said Walker.

“I never expected to win it, I genuinely have to admit that. It was a mega race, I got through to the front and went at a pace I was semi comfortable going, John was closing in.

‘I wouldn’t say I had anything in reserve but was hedging my bets a little just ticking away the laps and got to the end. Well chuffed.”