Michael Laverty says he was lucky not to have been hit harder by Tommy Hill and Sh⛄ane Byrne after crashing directly in front of them during the British Superbike Championship openerꦡ at Brands Hatch.

The Swan Yamaha rider had been leading when he lost the bike on t𒁏he exiౠt of Clearways, Laverty proceeding to be clipped by team-mate Tommy Hill as he spun off the circuit.

Despite the crash, and his impact with Hill's bike, Laverty suffered no no🍎table injuries, the Northern Irishman relieved to have not been involved in a more serious smash.

"It has been a bit of a tough one for me," he said. "I am feeling a little bit sore, but I was able to wa📖lk away from a really big crash in the first race and that is t💯he main thing but the team worked hard to get the bike back together for the second race.

"It was a shame to crash out as I felt quite good and I was feeling confident for the win. It was a big crash; the🐎 tyre just spun and 🎃I didn't have time to save it. I did get clipped by Tommy but I was so lucky that both him and Shakey were able to miss me.

Laverty bounced back in the s🏅econd race to run third initially and set the fastest lap of the race, though he would back off and settle for fourth when he began to feel the bike fold🅺ing.

"In the second race I felt ok and set the fastest lap but then there were a few places where the front was folding and I didn't🥃 want to crash again. We have a fe💦w days now before Oulton Park and I want to come out there and get back on the podium."

Laverty won his first BS🅰B race at Oulton Park last year aboard the Relentless by TAS ♐Suzuki team.