Leon Camier looked like taking his second podium of the season during Sunday's final race at the FIM Superbike World Championship in Portugal only to see his hopes disappear in the closing stages.

The Ashford rider (pictured) started from ninth on the grid at Portimao and had made his way up to sixth by lap three.

Camier continued to close the gap on the leading riders and was challenging Italian Max Biaggi for third place when he had to retire at the start of the final lap because of a transmission problem with his FIXI Crescent Suzuki.

Earlier Camier finished 11th in a disjointed and difficult first race which had to be re-started because of an accident in the wet conditions.

Camier said: "I attacked right from the start in race two and moved up the field before challenging Biaggi.

"It was a close battle, close enough for us to make contact at one point, and I really believed I could find a way past, make it stick and take third spot.

"But I had a few problems with the gearbox during the race and then the bike locked up on me with two laps to go and I had to take to the run-off.

"I tried to keep going, but it happened a couple of times more and nearly spat me off, so I had no choice but to pull out. I'm happy though because the bike has come on a lot in the recent months and I now know we can fight with the best."