Kiwi superbiker Aaron Slight managed a fighting fifth from a tough grid position in race one of the world Superbike championship at Oschersleben in eastern Germany yesterday, and was then pulled out of race two over a start-line incident.
Officials ruled that the 34-year-old had jumped the race two start, butSlight and his Castrol Honda crew disagreed and immediately protested.
Meantime, Slight was brought in for a wheel-stop penalty in the pit-lane and, seeing a valiant chase of the leaders evaporate, he flagged it away and parked his machine.
His American team-mate, Colin Edwards, all but wrapped up the world title with a double victory in yesterday's penultimate round, only a long-running court case giving Japanese Yamaha rider Noriyuki Haga any hope.
Edwards is 52 points ahead of the Japanese flyer, with only 50 points on offer at the final round at Brands Hatch next month.
If Haga wins the court case a few days before that event, he will effectively close up 50 points on the American. If he loses, Edwards is world champion, Castrol Honda's first since fellow American John Kocinski in 1997.
The case dates back to a drug ruling from round one five months ago, over a flu medicine.
Slight battled back from a poor start position in yesterday's first race.
"It's just so tough from back there," said the Masterton-born racer, who is still on the comeback trail after brain surgery.
"The first race was really crazy with bikes going all directions and I was very pleased with fifth. With a better start I would have been on the podium. I got boxed up and nearly crashed out, and by the time I got it all sorted out the pack was gone."
