Crutchlow's first victories so sweet

The 24-year-old British rider Cal Crutchlow scored the first World Superbike wins of his career when he blazed to a double victory in his home round at Silverstone yesterday on his Yamaha YZF R1.

Crutchlow, who had qualified on pole, beat Northern Ireland's Jonathan Rea (Honda) in the first of two 18-lap contests, then repeated the feat in the second after a 180mph wheel-to-wheel scrap on the 3.67-mile circuit.

"This has been too long coming, but to do it at my home race makes it all the more sweet," Crutchlow said. "I've been an idiot and put it on the floor a few times this season, but we've got that right now."

Britain's challenger for the Superbike world title, the 27-year-old Leon Haslam, twice defeated the championship leader Max Biaggi. But Haslam's third and fourth places on his Alstare Suzuki still leave him second in the points table, 60 behind Biaggi and his Aprilia, with only six races remaining.

Crutchlow climbed to fifth place in the points standings with his second race win over Rea, with Londoner Leon Camier (Aprilia) taking the final podium position. Haslam won a frantic battle for fourth.