Shane Byrne extended his lead in the British Superbike Championship to 99 points after clinching two thirds at Oulton Park.

The Ducati rider, from Sittingbourne, crossed the line just 0.3 seconds behind second placed man James Ellison in race one.

Byrne was at the back of a four-man pack, which broke away from the field in race two and he maintained that position until the penultimate lap, when he took the final podium position off Leon Haslam.

On the final lap Byrne briefly held second but a late challenge from Cal Crutchlow left the championship leader to settle for third.

“I’m pleased to have extended my championship lead,” said Byrne. “But if I am honest I really wish I could have come away with a win for the Airwaves Ducati team today.

“In the first race I didn’t push hard enough for the first few laps and it really cost me, allowing the riders in front to get away. I felt a lot more comfortable in race two, the Airwaves Ducati 1098R worked the best it has all season.”

Rizla Suzuki’s Tom Sykes claimed a win double at the Cheshire circuit.

Maidstone’s Scott Smart claimed his best finish of the season with an eighth in race two. The Kawasaki rider finished 11th in race one.

Byrne’s team-mate Leon Camier had little to smile about after the Ashford racer missed both races following a heavy fall in qualifying.

“It’s been a difficult weekend,” said Camier. “The decision to not take part today wasn’t an easy one but I wasn’t 100 per cent fit to race so it was for the best.”

Round eight takes place at Knockhill on August 10.