CARL Fogarty retained second spot overall in the World Superbike Championship after two wet races at Misano in Italy, round two of the 1997 series.

The 1994 and 1995 world champion from Blackburn finished third in both races as the American John Kocinski, on the Castrol Honda, extended his lead in the championship race.

And team-mate Neil Hodgson from Burnley consolidated his seventh-placed finish in the first race to claim fourth in the second to move into 10th spot in the overall table.

"I was delighted with the two results, especially the second race obviously," said Hodgson.

"It was particularly pleasing to get two good results on Ducati's home track." Conditions on the track were atrocious as rain lashed down throughout both races.

Fogarty rode cautiously and was satisfied with two thirds to keep himself well poised in the title race.

"The only disappointing thing for me is that Kocinski won again," said Fogarty.

"On wet, he is doing well but I know I will beat him when we get onto dry tracks.

"I was really cautious in the first race although I led at one point.

"It was so cold that my hands went numb about 10 laps out and I couldn't feel the breaks or the throttle.

" In those conditions you have to concentrate twice as hard.

"The second race my visor was steaming up as the rain came on heavy.

"When it rains I don't race to win, I just want to stay on."

Kocinski battled through to second place in the first race but could do little about runaway winner Pier-Francesco Chili and was forced to settle for the runner-up place.

He hit back in race two, passing Chili - who later retired - to win his second race from the four so far this year. Kocinski's team-mate Aaron Slight took second place to move into third in the championship behind Fogarty.

First race result: 1 Pier-Francesco Chili, Italy (Ducati) 48m 44.232s, 2 John Kocinski, USA (Castrol Honda) 48m 58.426s, 3 Carl Fogarty, GB 7 Neil Hodgson, GB (Ducati) 1 lap

Second race result: 1 Kocinski 47m 44.390s, 2 Slight 48m 16.253s, 3 Fogarty 48m 24.933s, 4 Hodgson 48m 31.885

Championship points after two of 12 rounds: Kocinski 79, Fogarty 65, Slight 58, Crafar 52, Edwards 38, Russell 29, Chili 25, Yanagawa 24, Cabana 23,Troy Bayliss, Australia (Suzuki) and Hodgson 22.

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