Parkalgar Honda's Eugene Laverty is now within three points of the World Supersport lead after Cal Crutchlow's crash at Imola yesterday - and he secured second in the race despite having ten pain-killing injections.

The Irishman narrowed the gap on Crutchlow after he fell with three laps to go in the re-started race. The original race was red-flagged after Joan Lascorz's Kawasaki spewed oil all over the track and Laverty got second on corrected time.

“I wasn’t able to show the Parkalgar Honda or my own true potential this weekend because of arm and leg pains that stemmed back to Friday’s delayed timings," said the youngster.

"I have an old injury in my left arm and a problem with my leg that means I have to stretch a lot on Thursday and Friday but this weekend the sessions on Friday were so interrupted I didn’t get a chance. The result was a lot of pain and this morning I had 10 injections in my arm and leg each – I was worried about even finishing the race so to get second when I could have been much stronger is excellent.

"I can’t believe I am back in the fight for the title, this is the closest I’ve been all year and I’ll be going to Magny Cours and then Portimao doing my best to win the World Championship at our home track.”