RUTTER CLOSES THE GAP
06 June 2004 - Honda Racing

In the second British Superbike Championship race of the day, Michael Rutter rode superbly to finish in second place behind Sean Emmett. The 31-year-old Leicestershire rider made another good start, slotting in behind Emmett and John Reynolds and soon upped the pace, setting the fastest lap of the race (1:16.329) as early as the third lap.

He moved up to second place one lap later when John Reynolds made a mistake and ran wide. However, Reynolds’ race would be over shortly after when he was taken out by his own team-mate, Gregorio Lavilla, in a racing incident.

At half race distance, Rutter passed Emmett to take the lead momentarily but then Lavilla came through on the slipstream. A five-way battle for the lead then followed for the remainder of the race with Emmett eventually coming out on top, in front of Rutter on the HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR. Rutter collected 20 vital championship points for his 11th podium finish in 12 races but – importantly – he has reduced the gap between him and John Reynolds to just eight points.

Rutter’s team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari lived up to his promise of an improved performance in race two by finishing in eighth position, which moves him up to seventh place in the points standings.

Michael Rutter: “That was actually a better race for me – the HM Plant Honda Racing Fireblade was steering really well but Sean Emmett just had the edge on me over race distance. I didn’t know that John Reynolds had crashed out of the race because I was concentrating on what was going on in front of me, not behind. I kept my concentration throughout the race and focussed on trying for my second win of the day. Overall, I’m much happier than I was after the last round at Mondello Park, especially now I’ve closed the gap at the top of the points table.”

Ryuichi Kiyonari: “That was much better than race one. I got a much better feel for the Thruxton circuit in the second race. We have made some positive steps forward today and I feel that I can take this forward to the next round at Brands Hatch. My times were much better in this race and if I had been further up the grid, this would have helped me to have gained a higher finishing position.”

Race two result: 1. S. Emmett (Ducati) 25:45.597; 2. M. Rutter (HM Plant Honda Racing) + 0.783; 3. G. Lavilla (Suzuki) + 2.487; 4. S. Smart (Kawasaki) + 2.571; 5. J. Ellison (Yamaha) + 2.640; 6. T. Hill (Yamaha) + 21.313; 7. K. Clarke (Yamaha) + 21.430; 8. R. Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda Racing) + 21.546; 9. C. Coxhill (Honda) + 21.844; 10. J. Buckingham (Suzuki) + 27.488

Points after round six: 1. Reynolds – 227; 2. Rutter – 219; 3. Smart – 153; 4. Kagayama – 152; 5. Emmett – 146; 6. Thomas – 95; 7. Kiyonari – 87; 8. Richards – 78; 9. Hill – 71; 10. Mason – 58

www.honda-racing.co.uk

More News
  For June 2004
  From Honda Racing
  For Racing General
  Biker247.com Home Page