Kawasaki’s Day battles to podium finish at Magny Cours World Superbike to keep championship hopes alive.

The USA’s Joshua Day took a fighting third place in the European Superstock 600 race at Magny Cours this weekend but was unable to close the gap to championship leader Jed Metcher, who crossed the line just 0.04 seconds ahead of the young American.

Day had set pole position on his Revolution Signs / Racedays Kawasaki ZX600R Ninja, but struggled with a lack of rear grip from the first lap. Unable to get drive from the corners Day changed his riding style to compensate and still set fastest lap of the race but had several huge slides. In the end even his skill in the braking zone could not hold off Ten Kate Junior’s Van Der Mark, who drafted by on the straight to take the lead of the race.

Day and Metcher had the speed to catch the Dutch rider but Metcher was desperate to beat Day and maintain his championship lead. The pair became embroiled in a 3 lap battle, repeatedly passing each other in a fantastic display of riding skill and sheer bravery. On the last lap Metcher led into the final chicane and as Day tried to swing around him the Australian defended his position, causing Day to move off the track and onto the artificial grass. Day kept the Kawasaki’s throttle wide open and pulled alongside, but at the line Metcher took the hard earned second place by only four hundreds of a second.

As World Superbike heads to the last round at Portimao Jed Metcher leads Joshua Day by 19 points with 25 available, and so the 2011 European Superstock 600 championship will go to the wire in Portugal!