RUTTER MAINTAINS FRONT ROW SUPREMACY
14 August 2004 - Honda Racing

Michael Rutter has maintained his record as the only rider to start every race from the front row of the grid in the 2004 British Superbike Championship.

The HM Plant Honda Racing rider powered his CBR1000RR Fireblade into second place at Croft during the hot afternoon session with a fast time of 1:20.950.

The 31-year-old Leicestershire rider was just 0.046 seconds behind Yukio Kagayama’s pole position of 1:20.904. Second position on the grid had been held by championship leader John Reynolds throughout the morning session and until five minutes before the end of the second qualifying period.

However, a final dramatic charge from Rutter saw the HM Plant Honda Racing rider steal the front row position and relegate his main adversary for the title onto the second row. With just four of the 13 rounds remaining, Rutter is concentrating on collecting as many podium finishes as possible.

His team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari also enjoyed an excellent afternoon session – setting a fastest lap of 1:21.783. This was an improvement of more than one second on the times he set in the morning and put the Japanese rider in eighth place. The 21-year-old will start tomorrow’s race at the 2.127-mile North Yorkshire circuit from the second row.

Michael Rutter: “I’m pleased to be on the front row again. It’s good news for me, especially as John [Reynolds] is starting from the second row. My aim is to try and win both races. I’ve got everything left to work for, so the championship certainly hasn’t been wrapped up yet.”

Ryuichi Kiyonari: “I’m reasonably happy with my qualifying position on the second row of the grid. It could have been even better, but I was held up on my last lap. This is another difficult circuit for me to find a good race set-up. However, I am confident that I can continue to show the form I displayed in the last round at Mallory Park.”

Qualifying times: 1. Y. Kagayama (Suzuki) 1:20.904; 2. M. Rutter (HM Plant Honda Racing) 1:20.950; 3. J. Haydon (Yamaha) 1:21.080; 4. D. Thomas (Ducati) 1:21.189; 5. S. Smart (Kawasaki) 1:21.228; 6. J. Reynolds (Suzuki) 1:21.329; 7. G. Mason (Yamaha) 1:21.426; 8. R. Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda Racing) 1:21.783; 9. T. Hill (Yamaha) 1:21.818; 10. J. McGuinness (Kawasaki) 1:21.840

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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