Victor Cox battled his way to a top-ten finish in Monday's Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship race at Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire, writes Graham Ravensdale.

In strong winds and heavy showers, Bradford on Avon's Cox qualified as the last rider on the fourth row for a race which was shortened by one lap.

Following a reasonable start he was held up behind local hero Steve Plater, who was returning to the championship after serious injury in the Irish North West 200 road race and was not quite race fit.

After eventually disposing of Plater he set about catching and passing fellow Kawasaki rider James Hillier to close down a three-second gap to three riders fighting for seventh position.

Cox's Black Horse Racing Kawasaki was running well and he was catching them at eight tenths of a second per lap on the narrow twisting circuit, but the end came too soon so he had to settle for tenth position.