Rutter Robbed of BSB Ducati Victory
Michael Rutter left Snetterton with two fourth places from three races but was robbed of a possible win when his gear lever snapped while he was leading Sunday’s first race. Rutter was in great form all weekend on the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati. His strong fourth place finish on Saturday was just a taste of what was to come in Sunday’s races.
In the first one, starting from sixth on the grid, he made a brilliant start and was second into the first corner but led the field across the line at the end of the lap. At half-race distance he was still in front and over a second clear of his closest rival Josh Brookes but his race came to an abrupt end just two laps later when the gear lever snapped, leaving him stuck in sixth gear.
Rutter said: “It’s gutting when something like that happens but that’s racing and you have to take it on the chin. It’s hard to lead a race like that. I saw plus zero on my board and started to ride defensive and then once I’d got the gap, I could get back to normal racing lines – the fastest way around the course – and then the gap opened up again.”
Rutter was again in the mix in the third race of the triple-header weekend and finished fourth again to remain fifth in the championship.
“I tried my best but didn’t quite make the podium,” he said. “I’m really pleased how well we’ve gone here because we thought we might just lack a bit on top end down the straights here a lot more than we did. My bike is the best through the corners but the four-cylinder bikes do just have the edge down the long straights here. It’s been another good weekend and I’m looking forward to Brands Hatch now.”
Team owner Phil Jessopp added: “Michael rode well again. It’s a real shame about the second race – it messed up our weekend really but as Michael said, we’re looking forward to Brands Hatch now which should really suit our bike.”
Source: Riders Ducati
Saturday, race one 18 laps
1 Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 19m 41.650s
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
6 Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +5.889s
7 James Ellison (Swan Honda) +9.148s
8 Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +11.305s
9 Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +14.364s
10 Tommy Bridewell (Quay Garage Honda) +14.386s
Sunday, race two 22 laps
1 Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 24m 13.327s
2 Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +1.472s
3 Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +2.740s
4 James Ellison (Swan Honda) +3.757s
5 Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +4.152s
6 Tommy Bridewell (Quay Garage Honda) +15.640s
7 Chris Walker (Sorrymate.com SMT Honda) +17.779s
8 Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) +18.417s
9 Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +18.880s
10 John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +19.131s
Sunday, race three 24 laps
1 Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 26m 52.964s
2 Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +0.591s
3 Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.954s
4 Michael Rutter (RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati) +1.584s
5 John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +3.897s
6 Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +4.899s
7 Chris Walker (Sorrymate.com SMT Honda) +6.127s
8 Andrew Pitt (Motorpoint Yamaha) +8.211s
9 Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +8.349s
10 Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +9.566s
Champions standings:
1 Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 218
2 Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 216
3 Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 193
4 Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 183
5 Michael Rutter (RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati) 165
6 John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) 129
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