NEIL Hodgson closed the gap on the leaders of the British Superbike Championship after finishing on the podium twice at Donington Park.

And the Burnley rider also claimed fastest lap in the second of the two 18-lap races when he scorched round the Leicestershire circuit in 1 min 9.388 seconds, averaging 101.55mph on his INS Ducati.

Although the results leave Hodgson still lying fourth in the overall standings, he has now closed the gap on leader - and team-mate - Troy Bayliss to 31 points.

The Australian still holds a slender one-point advantage, despite being involved in a three-rider pile-up on the final lap of race one.

Bayliss was battling for victory with John Reynolds and Steve Hislop when all three went down at the Old Hairpin.

That suddenly promoted Hodgson, who was lying sixth at the time, up to third.

Kawasaki rider Chris Walker, who finished second and fourth at the 'double header' meeting, consolidated his second overall in the series with James Haydon, riding for Crescent Suzuki in third.

Just five points separate the top three and with 20 points on offer for a win, Hodgson - winner of the opening race at Brands Hatch - is well placed to close in on the leading trio.

The British 125cc Championship lived up to its reputation for close racing, with the narrowest of finishes at Donington. Just three-hundreths of a second split race winner Chris Burns and second-placed Darren Barton.

Hoddlesden's Barton, riding the Colin Appleyard Racing/Helphire Bike Assist Racing Honda, posted the fastest time in warm-up, and took the lead on the last lap.

But he was baulked by backmarkers at the final chicane and missed out by half a machine length to Burns' RCD Motorsport Honda.

His win marked a maiden 1999 victory for the Burnley-based outfit, run by Neil Hodgson's father Mark.

Barton's second place has moved him up to third in the championship standings behind leaders Steve Patrickson and Pete Jennings.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.