SHANE 'Shakey' Byrne ended the day on top of the podium as the MCE Insurance Superbike Championship came to Croft, but he didn't have it all his own way in a dramatic day of action.

The HM Plant Honda rider secured victory in the second of two races at the track near Darlington, but failed to finish the first when his engine blew while leading.

That had left the way for John Kirkham to score a maiden triumph on the Samsung Crescent Racing machine. But he went from hero to zero as the action came to a close, crashing out in spectacular fashion in Race Two and taking the luckless Michael Laverty of the Guisborough-based Swan Yamaha team with him.

The Swan team were never far from the action and one of the highlights of the day saw Tommy Hill, still far from fit after his shoulder injury at Oulton Park, go from row six on the grid in the final race, to sixth place come the finish.

Byrne, who leads the standings by three points from American John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) who bagged a pair of podiums, said afterwards: "I wish it could have been a double win today for HM Plant Honda as I have been desperate to do a good job here this weekend.

"It was disappointing we had our first mechanical problem of the year in the opening race, but we bounced back for the second one and I am pleased we still have the championship lead."

Kirkham was overjoyed at winning the opening race, which was delayed by rain and then saw the appearance of the safety car brought out after Byrnes problems.

The reigning National Superstock champion said: "I can hardly believe that I've done it as that was the scariest race of my life with the changing conditions, but what a race. I was lucky with the pace car coming out as it gave me the chance to close the gap up and it was pretty loose out there."

Laverty, who has yet to grab a podium despite being consistently fast, could not believe the way his weekend had gone.

The Northern Irishman, whose tyre choice left him uncompetitive in the opener, was sent hurtling into the barriers along with Kirkham when the pair came together towards the back of the circuit.

Kirkham appeared not to see Laverty as the pair dueled for a place, colliding with the Yamaha and causing both men to fall from their machines at high speed.

Both were thrown forcefully into the barriers, along with their machinery, but thankfully were able to walk away.

"He just didn't seem me in his peripheral and didn't give way at all and came over the top and so there was going to be a coming together," said Laverty. "Sometimes you have to expect that in racing, you have got to see what's around you. It's as much his fault as it is mine. It's a racing incident, but I am just absolutely p****d off."

The impact was fierce, but Laverty said he had not come off too badly.

"It was OK until I hit the barriers and I folded my head under and pulled some muscles in the back of my neck, so it's sore, but I am just so annoyed really," he said.

Laverty said he was keen to put Croft, a circuit he generally likes, behind him.

"Today has been an absolute disaster for me. Nothing has gone my way. I have been so fast in every practice session here and come race day it all falls apart," he said.

His team-mate Hill was in a better mood, managing to score precious points despite his handicap.

"Going from 21st to sixth I am very happy with," he said in reference to his second race heroics. "We have got some points in the bag and we didnt know what to expect before this weekend.

"We had to get our binoculars out for our race two grid position after the first race which was really hard work. But once we got going the adrenaline kicked in and that is the best form of pain relief.

"We weren't sure before the weekend that we would even be riding, but we have come away with some decent points for the championship and now we are just looking forward to Thruxton where I should be back to full fitness."