Canterbury's Tom Ward is up to fifth place in the Pirelli National Superstock Championship after two third places at Knockhill.

After a promising recent testing day, the IN Competition Aprilia rider qualified seventh in Scotland and overtook Alex Olsen, Lewis Rollo and, on lap 22, Richard Kerr for third place.

Race two saw a 10-lap battle with race one winner Billy McConnell before another third place was sealed when Braydon Elliott lost control going into the second corner.

Ward said: “[I'm] really happy with the weekend, we had a really successful test a couple of weeks ago which allowed us to get two strong podium finishes.

"I can't thank the team enough for all the efforts for getting the bike to this point and I’m now super excited to get to Brands Hatch which is my home circuit where hopefully we can continue on the good form.

"Thank you to all my sponsors, team and family for all their help to get me where I am today.”

Fellow Kent rider Jack Nixon was also at Knockhill but is 11th in the standings after a weekend to forget with his first crash of the season aboard his BMW for FHO Racing.

Nixon, from Folkestone, qualified 16th, finishing race one in 14th and in race two, coming from 18th on the grid, he was up to ninth by the end of lap one.

However a small error at the final corner had big consequences.

He said: “I had a disappointing race on Saturday so I knew I had a lot of work on my hands in the second race. I got a really good start, I think I passed about nine people on lap one.

“But then, I went to make another move but got a bit too tight to the kerb and another rider didn’t see me in time. I loaded the front a bit too much and it got to the top of the hill and it just unloaded all at once and tucked the front, a real slow crash and then I got hit from behind.

“I’m lucky to be all right, I couldn’t tell where I was actually hit because it all happened so fast, but, to be honest, I was lucky to get away with it."

The championship resumes at Brands Hatch on July 22-24.