Jonathan Rea was involved in a dramatic last-lap collision as his World Superbike championship hopes suffered another blow at Jerez on Saturday.
Rea was battling with Alex Lowes for third place when the Ballyclare rider attempted a move up the inside going into the last corner.
But as Lowes lent in, Rea clipped the inside of the Yamaha rider, sending him sliding onto the gravel.
Rea went over the finish line in third place but an investigation was launched instantly.
It was later ruled that Rea would be stripped of his podium and demoted to fourth. He will also have to start from the back of the grid for tomorrow's Superpole race
The Ulsterman looked emotional as he returned to parc ferme, and afterwards he apologised to Lowes.
"My race was horrible, but I can't stop thinking about Alex," Rea told Eurosport.
"I'm so, so, so, so sorry that he went down. It was not my intention.
"I'm really sorry. I tried to stop at their garage to apologise, I will go back later.
"I was struggling with the front of the bike. It was okay for the first few laps, but after five or six I was a passenger.
"But I can't think about anything else bar that final corner."
Rea had started the race on pole but was soon overtaken by championship leader Alvaro Bautista who went on to claim his 12th win of the series.
Dutchman Michael van der Mark finished in second.
Bautista extends his lead over Rea, who was confirmed in third place after an investigation.
Keep up-to-date with all the very latest news, what's on, sport and everything else in Belfast and beyond with the Belfast Live app.
Only select news that interests you by picking the topics you want to display on the app's homepage. Plus, our enhanced user experience includes live blogs, video, interactive maps and slick picture galleries. Download it now and get involved.
Click here to get it from the App Store or here for Google Play .
