It was a case of honours even in the superbike racing at Thruxton BSB, as Shane Byrne won race one on the Airwaves Ducati ahead of young gun Cal Crutchlow on the HM Plant Honda, chased home by Michael Rutter on the NW200 Ducati.

In race two, the first and second places were reversed, while Mr 'Blade' Rutter again claimed the final step of the podium. So, with two Ducatis on the podium in both races, can we start moaning about their unfair advantage yet? Or is it too soon?

In the supersport race, Steve Brogan won for HM Plant Honda from pole position ahead of Glen Richards on the Triumph Daytona. Third place went to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin (are you sure? – Ed.) who likes to take time out from his screaming kid and nutty wife by running at the front of British supersport. Chris Martin is sponsored by Gearlink Kawasaki.

And Brogan won the superstock race on the new Honda Fireblade, chased home very, very closely by Jon Kirkham on the Raceways Yamaha. Kirkham also won the first round of the Henderson R1 Cup. Third step on the podium went to Cameron Donald, an Aussie on the TAS Suzuki whose main aim for the year is to shine on the roads.

And, on a more magazine-based note, our own Jon 'JP' Pearson marked his first ever laps around Thruxton with a seventh in the KTM SuperDuke Battle. Not too shoddy around the intimidating circuit, chasing a bunch of experienced racers. Well done sir!