Chaz Davies shrugged off a qualifying crash to twice storm through the filed to finish second in the opening World Superbikes race at Aragon.

The Knighton-born rider lined-up in 11th spot on the Aragon track for the race which had to be restarted after an early three rider pule-up.

Davies had made a stunning start to the first race moving up from 11th to fourth at the end of the first lap before taking third after a move on Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes.

The 31-year-old’s progression in the restarted race was more gradual but it ended in a all-Ducati duel behind leader Jonathan Rea with Marco Melandri and Xavi Fores.

Davies and Fores exchanged second place on the final lap before the Welsh ace just squeezed ahead at the chequered flag finishing just over a second adrift of the reigning champ.

The result left Davies in third spot in the standings just three points behind team-mate Melandri and 17 adrift of Rea ahead of Sunday’s second race.

Davies said: “It was a good race.

“To start from 11th isn’t ideal but I made two good starts and took my time to let the race come to me.

“Eventually I just started pressing a little bit more and got closer to Marco and Xavi.

“I was struggling to find an opportunity but I put it together in the end.

“It was a fun battle with them in the last lap.

“I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent with the bike but I learned a lot. We will try to put it to good use and come out swinging on Sunday.”