Gary Mason
HM Plant Honda Boys Dominate Wins At Snetterton Round Of BSB
Source: British Superbike News - Monday, 19th July 2010, 17:58 GMTThis weekend saw three races at the Snetterton circuit with the re-run of Race 2 from the Knockhill round of the championship taking place on Saturday and the two races from round seven going ahead as scheduled on the Sunday. Race 1 (re-run of Knockhill race two – Saturday) The HM Plant Honda rider Josh Brookes took the chequered flag in the re-run of the cancelled Knockhill race 2 on Saturday after passing his team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari on the final lap. Kiyonari had dominated the race from the flag ahead of the Relentless Suzuki pairing of Michael Laverty and Alastair Seeley. Tommy Hill on the Worx Crescent Suzuki had soon moved into third position passing both Relentless Suzuki riders as he chased down the leading HM Plant Honda duo. Brookes was sitting in ninth place by the end of the first lap after a terrible start but by the seventh lap had passed Seeley, Michael Rutter and Laverty and was up to third place. The HM Plant Honda rider was soon attacking Hill, passing him on the inside at Riches before going after his team-mate. Kiyonari was defending his position but Brookes managed to make his way past on the final lap again at Riches to take his third win of the season. Hill finished in third place ahead of Rutter in fourth, Seeley in fifth, Michael Laverty in sixth, James Ellison in seventh, Simon Andrews in eighth, Gary Mason in ninth and Tommy Bridewell in tenth. Here are the results; 1. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda 19mins 41.650s 2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +0.594s 3. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +4.475s 4. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +4.989s 5. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +5.485s 6. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +5.889s 7. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +9.148s 8. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +11.305s 9. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +14.364s 10. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda +14.386s 11. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +14.698s 12. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +15.007s 13. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +17.458s 14. Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha +28.761s 15. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha +28.933s 16. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +35.025s 17. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +38.524s 18. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +39.410s 19. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +40.229s 20. Pauli Pekkanen FIN 777 RR Motorsport Suzuki +40.570s 21. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Spike Suzuki +41.257s 22. Hudson Kennaugh RSA Splitlath Aprilia +45.780s 23. Luke Jones GBR PR Racing Yamaha +46.729s 24. David Johnson AUS Two Brothers Kawasaki +55.302s Not Classified 25. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda 5 laps completed 26. Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia 0 laps completed Race One - Snetterton It was Michael Rutter on the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati that took to the lead as the opening race got underway ahead of Tommy Hill, Ryuichi Kiyonari, Michael Laverty and James Ellison. Brookes was back in sixth place by the end of lap one despite claiming pole position in the Swan Combi Roll for Pole after another iffy start. By the fourth lap the HM Plant Honda rider had moved up to third while his team-mate Kiyonari was forced to retire from the race following a mechanical problem. Hill had fallen back down the field running behind both Seeley and Ellison but was soon looking to make a pass on the Swan Honda rider which he succeeded in doing to finish the race in second place. By lap 7, Brookes had passed second place man Hill before being gifted the lead 7 laps later when Rutter was seen slowing down with a gear shift problem on the Ducati. Hill finished in second place followed by Seeley in third, Ellison in fourth, Michael Laverty in fifth, Tommy Bridewell in sixth, Chris Walker in seventh, Stuart Easton in eighth, Simon Andrews in ninth and John Laverty rounding off the top ten riders. Here are the results; 1. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda 24mins 13.327s 2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +1.472s 3. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +2.740s 4. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +3.757s 5. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +4.152s 6. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda +15.640s 7. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +17.779s 8. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +18.417s 9. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +18.860s 10. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +19.131s 11. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +21.546s 12. Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha +21.838s 13. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +32.999s 14. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +34.969s 15. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +44.072s 16. Hudson Kennaugh RSA Splitlath Aprilia +44.287s 17. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Finance Honda +46.654s 18. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Spike Suzuki +48.050s 19. Pauli Pekkanen FIN 777 RR Motorsport Suzuki +48.514s 20. David Johnson AUS Two Brothers Kawasaki +56.866s 21. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +59.310s 22. Michael O’Brien GBR Motomob/O’Brien Yamaha +1 Lap 23. Steve Heneghan IRL Quattro Plant Honda +1 Lap Not Classified 24. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha 15 laps completed 25. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati 14 laps completed 26. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki 12 laps completed 27. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha 9 laps completed 28. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda 3 laps completed 29. James Edmeades GBR Redline KTM 3 laps completed DNS Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia DNS Luke Jones GBR PR Racing Yamaha Race Two Josh Brookes was denied his third win of the weekend after a technical problem occurred seeing him retiring from the race on lap 12. It was the Swan Honda of James Ellison that took to the front of the pack as the race got underway ahead of Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari. By lap 3, Kiyonari squeezed his way through on Michael Laverty before passing his team-mate Brookes seven laps later. On lap 9, the Honda rider had managed to get past the leading Swan Honda rider Ellison as they headed into Riches. Brookes was hot on the tail of his team-mate until he was forced to retire from the race. Kiyonari was leading the race 1.3 seconds ahead of Michael Laverty, Rutter and Ellison until Alastair Seeley attempted a pass on Ellison taking them both out of the race. Michael Laverty made a move on the leading man only to run wide and lose his second position to a stalking Tommy Hill. Rutter finished in fourth place ahead of John Laverty in fifth, Simon Andrews in sixth, Chris Walker in seventh, Andrew Pitt in eighth, Gary Mason in ninth and Yukio Kagayama in tenth. Here are the results; 1. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda 26mins 52.964s 2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +0.591s 3. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +0.954s 4. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +1.584s 5. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +3.897s 6. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +4.899s 7. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +6.127s 8. Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha +8.211s 9. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +8.349s 10. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +9.566s 11. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha 10.663s 12. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +12.146s 13. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +16.226s 14. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +17.302s 15. Hudson Kennaugh RSA Splitlath Aprilia +17.607s 16. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +20.206s 17. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Spike Suzuki +21.700s 18. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Finance Honda +21.755s 19. David Johnson AUS Two Brothers Kawasaki +28.748s 20. Steve Heneghan IRL Quattro Plant Honda +55.682s Not Classified 21. Michael O’Brien GBR Motomob/O’Brien Yamaha 21 laps completed 22. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki 13 laps completed 23. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda 13 laps completed 24. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda 13 laps completed 25. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda 11 laps completed 26. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda 6 laps completed 27. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda 0 laps completed 28. Pauli Pekkanen FIN 777 RR Motorsport Suzuki 0 laps completed DNS James Edmeades GBR Redline KTM DNS Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia DNS Luke Jones GBR PR Racing Yamaha Read article
HM Plant Honda get clean sweep
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash » BSB - Sunday, 18th July 2010, 16:27 GMTJosh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari gave their HM Plant Honda team a trio of wins at Snetterton this weekend, with each taking one win on Sunday. After gaining the prominent starting position, Brookes again suffered with a slow getaway, however still triumphed where others faltered. Tommy Hill and Michael Rutter shared the early advantage, while Brookes clawed his way back through the pack. Kiyonari was hot on the tail of Hill, when the HM Plant Honda rider stole second away from him. However, his joy was short lived when he was forced to retire with technical problems in the opening stages. Determined to make up ground in his teammates absence, Brookes was soon on a charge, fighting his way back to the front within a matter of laps. Still charging through the pack, it wasn’t too long before Brookes was back in control of this second race, and on his way to a double victory. Hill was his rear gunner in second, with Alastair Seeley in third. James Ellison enjoyed another good outing to finish fourth, with Michael Laverty fifth, and Tommy Bridewell sixth. Chris Walker, Stuart Easton, Simon Andrews and John Laverty completed the first ten positions. Race two saw Ellison as the early pace setter, with the Swan Honda rider taking control to send his weekend another step in the right direction. As ever Brookes and Kiyonari were never far behind, with each looking for the victory. As the race progressed the chaos kicked in, when Brookes found himself slipping down the order and into retirement. It wasn’t long before Ellison joined him, being forced to watch the rest of the race from the side lines. Ellison’s teammate, Easton was another retirement, with the Scotsman not even getting a chance to make his mark on this final race of the weekend. With chief rival out of the picture, Hill was able to slot into second place, however was unable to make much of an impression on leader Kiyonari. Michael Laverty slipped through into third and the final podium position, with Rutter fourth. Some of the battle towards the back end of the top ten was fought out between John Laverty, Simon Andrews and Chris Walker, each slipping into fifth, sixth and seventh places, respectively. Meanwhile, Andrew Pitt, Gary Mason and Yukio Kagayama followed them home in eighth, ninth and tenth. Kiyonari told the BSB website: “I am very happy, especially after the race earlier today when we missed the chance to fight for it. It has been a hard weekend and we had been struggling with the setting but we have worked between the sessions to solve this and we are getting better all the time and I think the championship is looking good again now.” Brookes leaves Snetterton still with the championship advantage in his grasp, with Hill breathing down his neck. The HM Plant Honda rider now leads with 216 points to Hill’s 198 points, with the next round taking place on the 6-8th August on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. Read article
Brookes battles to another win
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash » BSB - Saturday, 17th July 2010, 22:04 GMTJosh Brookes gained the upper hand in the first of three races at Snetterton this afternoon, stealing the victory from teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari in the dying seconds. After the final race at Knockhill was cancelled due to rain just two weeks ago, it was deemed the best option to run it during this next round at Snetterton. Rain threatened to play a large part again this afternoon, when the race was yet again red flagged due to the weather conditions. It wasn’t long before the weather was back on the side of the BSB fraternity, and the race could be restarted. At the third attempt of this race, it was Kiyonari who gained the advantage off of the line, immediately launching into the lead. Despite immense pressure from Michael Laverty, Alastair Seeley and Tommy Hill, the HM Plant Honda rider controlled the pace as the laps ticked downwards. Brookes suffered a slow getaway, leaving him ninth by the end of the first tour; however it wasn’t long before he was muscling his way through the traffic. Before too long, Brookes was hot on the tail of chief championship rival Hill. After shadowing his Worx Crescent Suzuki for a short while he saw his opportunity to gain an advantage. Now with nothing but clear track between him and teammate Kiyonari, Brookes was closing the gap, eager to steal the position away from him. After trailing the similar machine for much of the closing laps, the final tour presented the ideal opportunity, when Brookes launched passed his unsuspecting teammate, to take the victory and extend his new championship lead. Kiyonari backed up another one-two finish for the HM Plant Honda outfit, with Hill completing the podium in third. Brookes now leads the BSB standings with 191 points, to Hill’s 178, with Kiyonari in third with 168 points. With the top three places taken care of, Michael Rutter was next up in fourth, just ahead of Seeley and Michael Laverty. James Ellison enjoyed a better outing, ending it with a seventh place finish, two seconds ahead of Simon Andrews. The remainder of the top ten saw Gary Mason and Tommy Bridewell both feature, finishing just inches apart. The regular double header of races will take part tomorrow, during Sunday’s usual race programme. Read article
Brookes in last lap ambush
Source: British Superbikes - BSB Blog - Mirror.co.uk - Saturday, 17th July 2010, 19:00 GMTHM Plant Honda's Josh Brookes won the opening race of the weekend at Snetterton after a stealth last lap move on his team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari, who had led the entire race until he was passed by his championship-leading team-mate. Brookes said: "I had the pace but made it hard on myself with a bad start. My lap times were strong and I was looking for places to get ahead of Kiyo and was lining him up in several places. "He was very strong though and our bikes are equally matched so I went for a lunge on the last lap as I knew I could win if I could get ahead. I muscled my way through and to have won again is a great result for me as I have increased my lead over Tommy." Kiyonari had taken the holeshot off the line on the opening lap to lead the pack into Riches for the first time ahead of the Relentless Suzukis of Michael Laverty and Alastair Seeley and Tommy Hill. The Worx Crescent Suzuki of Hill though was on the attack and made a move on Seeley into Riches and a good run on the second lap put him third and within striking distance of leader Kiyonari and Laverty. Brookes had finished the opening lap in ninth and had given himself work to do to close the gap on his Japanese team-mate who was holding an advantage of 0.5s over Hill in by the fifth lap. He was making rapid process through the pack though; passing Seeley, Rutter and Michael Laverty then closed on to the back of rival Hill by the seventh lap. Brookes made his move at Riches on his Worx Crescent Suzuki nemesis, taking the inside line on the brakes to put himself firmly ahead and he then had his sights set on closing the gap to leader Kiyonari. He was soon menacingly shadowing his team-mate and despite several attempts to make a pass the lead was defended, but on the final lap a concerted move down the inside at Riches gave him the lead which he held to the flag to score his third win of the season. Hill maintained his third position, despite several attempts from Rutter to return to a podium position, whilst Alastair Seeley ended the race fifth after getting the better of team-mate Laverty on the eleventh lap. James Ellison took a top ten finish despite starting from the sixth row to recover from a disappointing day on track yesterday during free practice, but the second Swan Honda of Stuart Easton was forced to retire on the sixth lap with a technical problem. Simon Andrews was the highest placed Kawasaki for the MSS Colchester team in eighth ahead of team-mate Gary Mason who clawed his way through to ninth with Tommy Bridewell rounding out the top ten. Steve Brogan finished sixteenth to win the Mirror.co.uk BSB - Evo race. MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, race one result: 1. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 2. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.594s 3. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +4.475s 4. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +4.989s 5. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +5.485s MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after race one: 1. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 191 2. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 178 3. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 168 4. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 156 5. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) 152 The next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship is a triple header at Snetterton this weekend (16/17/18 July). For more information visit www.snetterton.co.uk or call 0870 950 9000. Read article
MSS Colchester Kawasaki looks forward to home BSB round at Snetterton
Source: Motourage - Wednesday, 14th July 2010, 15:08 GMTWith a triple-header round and seve75 points up for grabs, the MSS Colchester Kawasaki Superbike riders Simon Andrews and Gary Mason have everything to play for this weekend at the team’s local Snetterton round of the British Superbike Championship. Meanwhile second placed Superstock rider Howie Mainwaring has the bit between his teeth after a DNF [...] Read article
Mss Squad Look Forward To Green Day At Home BSB Round
Source: The Latest Motorcycle News - Wednesday, 14th July 2010, 13:25 GMTWith a triple header round and seventy-five points up for grabs, the MSS Colchester Kawasaki Superbike riders of Simon Andrews and Gary Mason have everything to play for at the team’s local Snetterton round. Meanwhile second placed Superstock rider Howie Mainwaring has the bit between his teeth after a DNF at Knockhill. Read article
Michael Rutter Takes Victory At Knockhill BSB Championship Round
Source: British Superbike News - Monday, 5th July 2010, 15:48 GMTMichael Rutter - BSB - Knockhill 2010 The Ridersmotorcylces.com rider Michael Rutter claimed his first win in two-years at this weekends British Superbike championship and the first ever for the team. The second race of the day was cancelled due to a crash under horrendous weather conditions which saw the first race restarted three times as the heavens opened. The first start ended after heavy rain fell on the track with only 2 laps completed, causing a delay of the restart of 90 minutes as the downpour continued. As the restart got underway an accident on lap 3 saw the second red flag as Chris Walker and Dan Linfoot crashed out spilling mud across the circuit which needed to be cleared. At the third start it was Josh Brookes who led the pack from pole position followed by Michael Rutter and Ryuichi Kiyonari. On lap 6 Kiyonari put his HM Plant Honda in front of both riders to take the lead but as a dry line began to develop on the soaked circuit, Rutter slipped past Brookes and was on the tail of the Honda rider. Rutter made his move with 5 laps of the shortened 15 lap race to take the lead remaining at the front until he crossed the finish line ahead of Kiyonari and Brookes. Relentless Suzuki rider Michael Laverty crossed the line in fourth place followed by Alastair Seeley in fifth, John Laverty in sixth, Simon Andrews in seventh, Tommy Hill in eighth, Gary Mason in ninth and Chris Walker in tenth. Rutter said after the race; “This is brilliant, not just for me but for the team. It’s great to back as a championship contender and it’s even better to be standing on top of the podium again. The conditions played into my hands a bit but I was desperate to get past the Hondas and run my own race. I know the race was shortened but it’s a win none the less in far from ideal conditions.” As the warm-up lap of race two got underway the rain once again began to fall followed by a six-bike pile-up after Simon Andrews fell off his Kawasaki at turn 1. As the clean up began and the rain subsided the wind began to gust across the track leading to officials to cancel the second race. Here are the results; 1. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati 13mins 32.658s 2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +0.577s 3. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +6.187s 4. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +9.363s 5. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +13.285s 6. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +18.708s 7. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +21.149s 8. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +23.233s 8=. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +23.233s 10. Chris Walker GBR CW Suzuki +28.717 11. Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha +29.831s 12. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +30.312s 13. David Johnson AUS Two Brothers BMW +31.077s 14. Christian Iddon GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +32.288s 15. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +34.394s 16. Luke Jones GBR PR Racing Yamaha +36.659s 17. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Spike Suzuki +36.714s 18. Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia +36.718 19. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +39.628s 20. Hudson Kennaugh RSA MAR Kawasaki +42.174s 21. Pauli Pekkanen FIN 777 RR Motorsport Suzuki +42.816s 22. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +44.777s 23. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +46.148s 24. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +47.068s Not Classified 25. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda 10 laps completed 26. Peter Ward GBR Astro-Chase SST Kawasaki 10 laps completed 27. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha 3 laps completed DNS Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha Read article
BSB Knockhill: Positive weekend for MSS Colchester Kawasaki despite Biblical weather conditions
Source: bikeracenews.com - Sunday, 4th July 2010, 21:32 GMTMSS Colchester Kawasaki battled against the dramatic conditions as the weather got all ‘Biblical’ on them at the Scottish circuit of Knockhill this weekend Both Simon Andrews and Gary Mason put in strong performances despite multiple red flags and difficult riding conditions, testing concentration and bike control to the limit. The MSS Colchester Kawasaki team were looking [...] Read article
Rutter reigns as race two is cancelled
Source: British Superbikes - BSB Blog - Mirror.co.uk - Sunday, 4th July 2010, 17:31 GMTRidersmotorcycles.com Ducati Michael Rutter took his first victory in two years in the much-anticipated opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race of the day at Knockhill following a second restart as conditions improved in Scotland. Rutter said: "That was terrifying! I really wanted that win and I took it easy to start with and just followed Kiyo and Josh to see how things would go. "I thought I had a good chance and it was a lottery out there but it definitely paid off. This is a great result for the Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati team and they worked hard for it. "I was not going to give anything away on the brakes and there were a few times I thought I was going to lose it, but here I am and on the top step so it's been a good day so far!" The race initially got underway with pole-sitter Josh Brookes taking the hole shot on the HM Plant Honda ahead of James Ellison who had his second place stolen from him by Michael Rutter, with the 'Blade' moving to second at Leslies. Brookes had taken a 1.084s lead but the race was then red flagged when torrential rain fell at Knockhill. The race was restarted with Ryuichi Kiyonari taking the lead into SEAT Curve on the opening lap but his team-mate Brookes took the inside line into the Real Radio Hairpin to retake the lead. However on the second lap Dan Linfoot crashed out of sixth at SEAT Curve, but the sliding Motorpoint Yamaha collected Walker and with the track needing sweeping the race was red flagged for the second time as the George White supported Racesafe marshals cleared the track. The race was then restarted for a second time and Brookes once again took the hole shot from his team-mate Kiyonari and Rutter, with the Ducati rider again repeating his move from the opener to dive down the inside of Kiyonari at Leslies to move second. Kiyonari though was on the attack to get his position back and on the fifth lap he went around the outside of Rutter into SEAT Curve to move second again. The former double champion was on a mission as he waited just a lap later to get the better of his team-mate Brookes by holding the inside line into the Real Radio Hairpin to take the lead. Rutter then saw his chance to move ahead of his Australian rival on the eighth lap at pushed ahead at Leslies. Rutter then had his sights firmly set on the win and on the eleventh lap he pushed forward at the Real Radio Hairpin to take the lead and despite Kiyonari attempting to take the lead back the 'Blade' took his first victory since 2008 with Kiyonari second and Brookes in third to take the championship lead. Michael Laverty put in an epic race to finish fourth on the Relentless Suzuki after starting the restart from the fifth row, holding off the challenges of team-mate Alastair Seeley in the closing stages of the race with John Laverty on the Buildbase Kawasaki in a lone sixth place ahead of Kawasaki rival Simon Andrews. Championship leader Tommy Hill could only manage an eighth place finish on the Worx Crescent Suzuki as he dropped down the order during the race, but crossed the line equal to the second MSS Colchester Kawasaki of Gary Mason. Chris Walker powered inside the top ten with a determined ride following his crash in the previous start; he had started dead last on the grid. Gary Johnson took his first win in the Mirror.co.uk BSB - Evo Championship, powering the AIM Suzuki ahead of David Johnson who was back on the podium in second and Aaron Zanotti in third after getting the better of Chris Burns on the final lap. The second MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race of the day at Knockhill was forced to be abandoned due to the weather conditions, including high gusts of winds, despite the tireless efforts of the circuit staff and officials throughout the day. MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, race one result: 1. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) 2. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.577s 3. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +6.187s 4. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +9.363s 5. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +13.295s Read article
Rutter masters rain soaked Knockhill
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash » BSB - Sunday, 4th July 2010, 17:21 GMTMichael Rutter was the sole winner at a weather controlled Knockhill today, storming to victory in the British Superbike Championship outing. Race one got underway in very wet conditions, with Rutter and Ryuichi Kiyonari enjoying good starts. Josh Brookes got the better of the field, jumping into the lead from the of, whilst James Ellison worked his way through to third. However, by lap two the heavens opened and, due to safety, the race was red flagged. After waiting for the weather to clear up, the race finally got underway again a few hours later. This time around it was Kiyonari who got the jump on his rivals, leading the field for much of the opening laps. Dan Linfoot crashed off heading into the SEAT Curve, colliding with Chris Walker, which brought out another red flag momentarily. The second restart saw Brookes make a strong getaway, launching into the lead from the off. With wet tyres on a drying track the HM Plant Honda duo of Kiyonari and Brookes soon began to struggle, unable to hold off a charging Rutter. Getting the better of the two Honda’s, Ruuter soon fought his way passed both of them, and into the lead. With Rutter controlling the pace, many of the usual front runners were seemingly struggling, with Tommy Hill slipping down the order, whilst Stuart Easton and James Ellison were battling towards the back of the pack. As the shortened fifteen lap race came to an end, it was Rutter who showed his dominance across the finish line in style, with a traditional wheelie. Kiyonari crossed the line second, leading home teammate Brookes in third. Michael Laverty recovered from his crash in qualifying to finish fourth, just ahead of Alastair Seeley, John Laverty and Simon Andrews. Hill eventually finish eighth, with Gary Mason ninth and Chris Walker tenth. Rutter told the BSB website: “That was terrifying. I really wanted that win and I took it easy to start with and just followed Kiyo and Josh to see how things would go. I thought I had a good chance and it was a lottery out there but it definitely paid off. This is a great result for the Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati team and they worked hard for it. I was not going to give anything away on the brakes and there were a few times I thought I was going to lose it, but here I am and on the top step so it’s been a good day so far.” The second race was again delayed due to the weather, however once it got started drama struck once again. As the field headed down the SEAT Curve (turn one), Simon Andrews crashed off of his MSS Colchester Kawasaki. As a result David Johnson, Aaron Zanotti, Andrew Pitt, Gary Mason and Chris Walker all ended up in the gravel after taking avoiding action, bringing out the red flag. During the race stoppage the weather again played a huge part, as high winds and heavy rain meant the second race could not be restarted, for safety precautions. This race will now be run at the next round at Snetterton, on the 17th July. Brookes now leads the standings, demoting Hill down to second with a long way still to go. The championship is really beginning to hot up, and looks set to be an interesting second half of the year. Read article
