RUNNER-UP RUTTER FIRST PAST THE FLAG
12 September 2004 - Honda Racing

Michael Rutter passed the chequered flag in first place at the end of the first British Superbike Championship race at Oulton Park. However, due to the result being declared over two parts on corrected time, the HM Plant Honda Racing rider was relegated to second position by rival John Reynolds.

The opening race at the penultimate round of the championship was red flagged at the end of lap 11 due to rain, but the overall times were taken from the previous lap for the restart. The riders gathered on the grid after a five-minute break to change tyres. Leicestershire rider Rutter began the second part of the 18-lap race in second position behind Reynolds.

As ever, the 31-year-old was determined to regain the lead. The HM Plant Honda star maintained second place on the opening lap, but he already had the series leader in his sights. He set about hunting him down and on lap three seized the opportunity to pass his adversary at Lodge Corner. This left Reynolds dicing with Sean Emmett for second position on the road.

Rutter maintained his lead to cross the line in first, but with an aggregate time difference of more than four seconds, victory was handed to Reynolds.

Ryuichi Kiyonari had a poor start to the first leg of the race, which left him starting part two from 15th position. Like his HM Plant Honda Racing team-mate, he set about slicing through the opposition with just eight laps remaining. The 21-year-old Japanese rider picked off several opponents and made up the time difference to finish 12th overall.

Michael Rutter: “Fair play to John [Reynolds] – he made a good start and had a decisive advantage on corrected time. I knew that I had to get in front, ride hard and hope to force him into a mistake. However, I’m not too despondent as the second part of the race went really well. That should hopefully give the HM Plant Honda an edge in race two – but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Ryuichi Kiyonari: “My start made it a difficult race. I was happy to see the red flag to stop the first part. That enabled me to make better progress in part two. I have learnt much from my first race at Oulton Park and now I hope to carry this forward into the second event.”

Race one result: 1. J. Reynolds (Suzuki) 29:36.353; 2. M. Rutter (HM Plant Honda Racing) +4.458; 3. Y. Kagayama (Suzuki) +9.998; 4. S. Emmett (Ducati) + 10.093; 5. S. Plater (Yamaha) +19.964; 6. G. Richards (Kawasaki) +20.098; 7. D. Thomas (Ducati) +21.188; 8. S. Smart (Kawasaki) 25.612; 9. T. Hill (Yamaha) +29.555; 10.P. Brown (Ducati) +33.398; 12. R. Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda Racing) +36.579

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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