Leon Haslam was seemingly on mission impossible as he splashed into the final lap of the second race of the tenth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at rain-swept Croft circuit.

The Airwaves Ducati rider was trailing Karl Harris by a couple of seconds as they powered into the final 2.127 miles lap but incredibly Haslam swept into the lead and then held off his bemused HM Plant Honda rival to win the dash to the line by a split second.

Haslam's determination and skill in the difficult conditions at the North Yorkshire circuit could be crucial in the eventual outcome of this hard fought title chase - his first victory of the season, by just 0.090 secs closed him within three points of the series leading Ryuichi Kiyonari who won the opening race here.

It was rich reward for Haslam who had been back in ninth place on the opening lap - he carved through the pack, and soon was picking off his two title rivals, first Kiyonari, and then his Ducati team-mate the reigning champion Gregorio Lavilla.

Harris, however, having accounted for early leader Michael Rutter aboard the Stobart Honda, was running comfortably clear, at one point enjoying a margin of some eight seconds, but Haslam was up for the challenge, and in the final third was pegging him back lap by lap.

Crucially, on the penultimate lap, they had to lap Craig Sproston, with Harris slightly delayed, though he still held the upper-hand, as he they crossed the line. “My pit-board said plus 2,4 going into the last lap - I knew that Leon was closing but I thought there was no way he could catch me. I did a half decent lap time myself. I just can't believe it - how did he do it?”

Haslam had the answers. “I got level with him soon after he had been a bit held up by a backmarker and I caught him with two corners to go and slipped through on the inside. I thought he would still come back at me. He had the power and was always going to try hard to get me back but I closed him up and held him off on the dash to the line.

“After being frustrated for so long, picking up the placings, it is fantastic to take the victory, and, with Kiyonari back in fifth place, it means I am only three points down on him in the championship with all to play for.”

Lavilla took third place, ahead of Rizla Suzuki's former champion Shane Byrne, Kiyonari, Rutter, Michael Laverty and Peter Hickman, eighth, having his best ever result in the top flight aboard his Hawk Kawasaki.

Earlier, with the threat of rain ever present Kiyonari had taken his eight victory of the season, after overcoming a terrific challenge from 19 year old Jonathan Rea who had shattered the outright record to put his Red Bull Honda onto pole start. They traded places before Kiyonari took charge, comfortably taking the victory, while Lavilla held a strong third ahead of Haslam as Byrne, Rutter and Tommy Hill packed the placings.

Marty Nutt won the British Superbike Cup category in the opening race, ahead of the series leading Chris Martin, but tumbled out of the second race which was easily won by Martin aboard the PR Branson Honda.

Elsewhere, on a dramatic afternoon, Sean Emmett won the British Supersport Championship race by five seconds over Tom Sykes and Leon Camier as series leader Cal Crutchlow tumble out of the action. Pete Spalding, fourth in the race, took his ninth consecutive victory in the Supersport Cup to clinch the title.

Brendan Roberts, with his sixth victory, sealed the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship, while Daniel Cooper opened up a 17 points lead over Michael Wilcox as he won the British 125GP Championship race.

Kenny Gilbertson won the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Cup race, while Graeme Gowland headed off series leader Tom Grant in the Virgin Mobile Cup.