McCarthy’s Castrol Honda team-mate, John McGuinness, did not take part in today’s race although the Lancastrian rider qualified his CBR600 machine on the front row.

McGuinness crashed his Honda 250 in the following qualifying session yesterday afternoon, cracking the ball-joint of his right hip. McGuinness was operated on at Leighton Hospital in Crewe this morning when two screws were inserted in the joint.

McCarthy’s result, after an early race battle with Honda-mounted Howard Whitby, allows him to keep second place in the championship points table and the Australian is now 12 points behind series leader, Moodie.

"I’ve struggled to find a good set-up all weekend," said the 30-year-old from Mickleham in Victoria. "It was OK today though. I knew Whitby was putting me under pressure early in the race and that allowed Moodie and Thomas to break away a bit.

"I’m happy enough with the podium," continued McCarthy, "and we move on to Knockhill now. Although it’s another new circuit for me, I understand it’s tight and twisty. We’re going to get the chance to test there before the next round so I’ll be up for that."

Results (Oulton Park – 2.7 miles, 18 laps):
1 Jim Moodie (Yamaha) 29m24.896s,
2 Dean Thomas (Ducati) +0.147s,
3 Kirk McCarthy (Castrol Honda) +7.050,
4 Howard Whitby (Honda) +8.856,
5 Gary Mason (Kawasaki) +13.017,
6 Chris Vermeulen (Honda) +13.374,
7 Woolsey Coulter (Honda) +20.080,
8 Dave Johnson (Ducati) +20.327,
9 Tim Poole (Yamaha) +35.691,
10 Andy Tinsley (Honda) +35.968.

Championship points after seven of 12 rounds:
Moodie 147,
McCarthy 135,
Thomas 98,
Glen Richards (Honda) 87,
Whitby 64,
Vermeulen 63,
Scott Smart (Ducati) 38,
Rob Frost (Honda) 34,
Mason 32,
Jamie Morley (Suzuki) 29.