WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!
19 September 2004 - Rizla-Suzuki

RIZLA SUZUKI''S John Reynolds is the 2004 Think! British Superbike Champion!

Yukio Kagayama is on the Championship podium as he takes third overall in the series! Rizla Suzuki is the winning team! Suzuki takes the Manufacturers Championship! We are the Champions!!!

JR took third place in the first race to secure his third British Superbike Championship while Yuki scraped home in 14th after a dramatic off track excursion at Craner Curves that left him with it all to do in the second race to keep a hold on third place in the series.

The Japanese ace was up to the task in the second race, finishing fourth and taking third overall. JR finished fifth in the final race of the season after riding defensively to help his team mate. Honda''s Ryuichi Kiyonari won both races while Rizla Suzuki took another podium finish today to record 25-rostrum finishes out of 26 starts in 2004.

Don''t miss the Rizla Suzuki team at the Castle Combe Grand National next weekend on 25th and 26th September when Superbike privateer and upcoming British talent Jon Kirkham along with Bike Magazine journalist Adam Hitchcock will be racing the awesome Championship winning GSX-R1000. JR and Yuki will both be on-hand to lend their support at the race meeting.

JR:
''What a fantastic day. Thank you to Rizla Suzuki for supplying the best bike and team this season and well done to Yuki for getting on the Championship podium in third.

''It''s hard to put my feelings into words right now. I think after I have a few beers it will be a lot easier and let me tell you, I plan to do a serious amount of celebrating this evening. The last word for the 2004 season goes to my fans - thank you, this number one plate is dedicated to you all for your support and belief in me and Rizla Suzuki.''

Yuki:
''Congratulations to John-san for winning Championship. This is title he deserves and Rizla Suzuki deserves. I am happy to finish third overall, this is almost unbelievable result when I remember my injuries at start of season.

''I am Factory Suzuki rider and I honestly say, Crescent Rizla Suzuki is brilliant best team I ever have pleasure to ride for. This is big honour for me to be rider for this team and big honour to ride in front of British fans. Thank you!''

Paul Denning, team manager:
''The champagne has never tasted so good. This is the climax of a season of extremely hard work and determination and is no less than JR, Yuki, every single team member and every single fan of Rizla Suzuki deserves. Saying that, I need to single out the whole Rizla Suzuki technical crew - we have a team of skilled, dedicated people who deserve nothing less than to be champions.

''Thanks to all our sponsors and partners for their support through thick and thin; there is no doubt we couldn''t have achieved this success without you. It''s time to taste some more of that champagne this evening before getting back to work for next year. See you all again in 2005!''

Race One Result: 1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 32:05.596, 2: Michael Rutter (Honda) +10.981, 3: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) +12.559, 4: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +15.169, 5: Sean Emmett (Ducati) +16.223, 6: Glen Richards (Kawasaki) +20.760, 7: Dean Thomas (Ducati) +27.223, 8: James Haydon (Yamaha) +33.589, 9: Gary Mason (Yamaha) +39.785, 10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +39.873.

Race Two Result: 1: Kiyonari 30:57.801, 2: Rutter +11.862, 3: Emmett +23.062, 4: Smart +24.194, 5: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) +24.521, 6: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) +26.271, 7: Thomas +27.184, 8: Haydon +33.864, 9: James Ellison (Yamaha) +34.186, 10: Steve Plater (Yamaha) +37.151.

Final Championship standings: 1: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) 446, 2: Rutter 417, 3: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) 335, 4: Smart 330, 5: Emmett 315, 6: Kiyonari 234, 7: Thomas 193, 8: Haydon 181, 9: Hill 137, 10: Richards 125.

www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk

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