Having managed to get into the last 16 for Superpole at Monza, Italy, last Saturday, the Aprilia RSV4 was feeling good.

But when I came to the Ascari chicane at the back of the circuit, the front wheel went away from me and dumped me off the circuit leaving me qualifying on the fourth row in 13th position for the race on Sunday with team-mate Max Biaggi on pole.

On a dry but overcast Sunday morning, the first race got underway and I managed to get up four slots as the first lap panned out. Up front Max got into the lead hotly followed by Haslam, Sykes and Toseland.

By lap three I had Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) in front but was able to pass him after a couple of laps. Then Jonathan Rea passed me dropping me back another position.

By lap nine I managed to get past Corser (BMW) and Fabrizio (Xerox Ducati) and on lap 10, Jonathan Rea took a mighty slide off on the entry to Parabolica, totalling his bike – this moved me up to fifth – but the front four guys were just too far ahead to close the gap, so I had to settle for fifth giving some valuable points.

Team-mate Biaggi took the chequered flag in a titanic struggle with Toseland and Crutchlow close behind him.

The second race started with me getting punted off the circuit as we approached the first corner, with a couple of riders falling, luckily there was a run-off strip and I managed to re-join the pack in sixth position while team-mate Biaggi tore into the lead closely followed by Crutchlow, Haslam and Corser.

I started to get into a rhythm and passed Sykes, getting up to fifth. For a few laps the four guys in front were setting a searing pace and I was riding a lonely ride in fifth; although midway through the race I began closing in on Corser but dropped three seconds which effectively meant the gap was too much.

However, just six laps from the end, Crutchlow lost his bike with oil on the rear tyre and that put me up to fourth which I maintained as I crossed the line for the final time.

Max made it a double for the factory taking the chequered flag with Haslam second and Corser in third.

Generally I was pleased with the weekend’s racing with valuable points gained that now puts me in eighth position overall – roll on Kyalmi, South Africa.

Race 1 results: 1 Biaggi M. (Aprilia RSV4); 2 Toseland J. (Yamaha YZF R1); 3 Crutchlow C. (Yamaha YZF R1 0.297) Race 2 results: 1 Biaggi M (Aprilia RSV4); 2 Haslam L (Suzuki GSX-R1000); 3 Corser T (BMW S1000 RR)

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