British Superbike News

Michael Rutter

While Honda’s HM Plant rider Josh Brookes treated the spectators to a spectacular riding display at the Cadwell track over the weekend other riders were struggling to find a good set up, among them RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati rider Michael Rutter who has been in incredible form up to this point in the season.

The Ducati team had their work cut out getting Rutter’s bike to work around the Cadwell circuit, but the rider did manage two impressive, under the circumstances, fifth place finishes.

Having already secured a place in the final showdown Rutter will be relishing the final three rounds at Croft, Oulton Park and Silverstone. He starts the showdown on 510 points, just fifteen behind leaders Ryuichi Kiyonari and Tommy Hill and will fancy his chances as much as the next man for the Championship title.

With much talk about the inclement late season weather that may play its part in the final showdown, Rutter may even have the upper hand on his rivals, with the Ducati perfectly suited to the three remaining tracks and the rider himself loving to race at each of them.

RidersMotorcycles.com Team Owner Phil Jessopp said after the races on Monday;

“Michael and the team did a great job this weekend under difficult circumstances. We’ve achieved exactly what we wanted from the nine-round regular season – to qualify for the Showdown. Michael is riding really well and the bike is flying. We know that Michael goes well at all the final three circuits and the Ducati works well at each of them so we have to be confident of our chances in the fight for the 2010 BSB title.”

Looking forward to the final showdown, Rutter said;

“This isn’t my favourite place and it’s been a tough weekend for everyone in the team to get the bike working well around here but the ridersmotorcycle.com ducati crew has worked well and I’m pretty pleased with the results.

To be honest, with the new points system there was no point in risking everything just to pass the person in front of me. I’m qualified for the final as one of the six ‘Title Fighters’ and we’ve got as good a chance of winning the title as any of the other riders. The final three rounds at Croft, Silverstone and Oulton Park are all perfectly suited to the Ducati and are tracks I love to race on so I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”

Josh Brookes

Race 1

Tommy Hill claimed his first win in four months at this weekends round of the British Superbike championship at Cadwell Park for the Worx Crescent Suzuki team.

It was the HM Plant Honda rider Josh Brookes that led the riders into the first corner with Tommy Hill right on his tail.  By lap 8, Hill had made his way past the Australian and held on for the win leaving a trailing Brookes and his team-mate Ryucihi Kiyonari to claim second and third respectively.

Michael Laverty crossed the line for fourth place ahead of Michael Rutter in fifth position and James Ellison in sixth.  Yukio Kagayama finished in seventh place followed by Alastair Seeley in eighth, Dan Linfoot in ninth and Stuart Easton in tenth.

Tommy Bridewell had his points disqualified after his collision with John Laverty on the final lap of race one.

Here are the results;

1.  Tommy Hill  GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki  26mins 25.609s
2. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +5.116s
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +7.092s
4. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +12.522
5. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +14.623s
6. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +20.822s
7. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +28.158s
8. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +28.533
9. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +34.523
10. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +34.945s
11. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +49.900s
12. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +50.932s
13. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +51.699
14. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +54.599s
15. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +1min 04.821s

DQ Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda +30.198s

Race 2

It was the HM Plant Honda rider Josh Brookes that crossed the finish line to take the chequered flag in the second race of the day at Cadwell Park.

Brookes took to the front as the race got underway but was passed by Tommy Hill before the end of the first lap followed by Ryuichi Kiyonari in second.

It was Brookes skill at ‘the mountain’ that gave him the edge over the leading two riders, giving him the lift he needed to get in front.

On lap 11, Brookes passed the leading man and shortly afterwards the red flags were waved ending the race after James Edmeades crashed and needed medical help on circuit for a fractured pelvis.

Once again it was Michael Laverty and Michael Rutter in fourth and fifth places respectively ahead of James Ellison in sixth.  Yukio Kagayama finished in seventh place followed by Tommy Bridewell in eighth, Alastair Seeley in ninth and Gary Mason in tenth.

Kiyonari will now head into the three round shoot-out on 525 points, Hill is also on 525 points and Brookes is on 524 points.

These races will begin at Croft on September 12 with each rider will have their previous points deleted and will each be credited with 500 points plus their bonus points from this seasons performance.

1.  Josh Brookes  AUS HM Plant Honda  19mins 00.530s
2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +0.230s
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +0.888s
4. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +5.071
5. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +11.719s
6. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +13.178s
7. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +15.712s
8. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda +21.347s
9. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +24.287s
10. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +27.445s
11. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +27.640s
12. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +28.063
13. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +29.143s
14. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +30.768s
15. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +35.609s

Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki DNS

Motorcycle racing fanatic Carly Rathmell has announced details of the Fighting Back Fundraiser, the first of hopefully many Charity Dinners to be hosted by the popular Freelance Sports writer and promoter.

A great way to finish the season and let your hair down, the Black tie (with a dash of pink or purple) do promises an action packed evening to raise money for two charities.

Carly has chosen to support two charities that are dear to her heart, Cancer Research and Help for Heroes, with both charities providing their full backing.

As well as hosting the Charity Dinner, Carly will be rewarding up and coming riders from various areas of the sport. There will be cash prizes for the best under 21 riders in Trials, Moto-X and Road Racing.

If you are able to help out, Carly is looking for sponsors for the event as well as anyone who is able to donate items for auction or tombola prizes for the evening.

The Charity Dinner will take place at the Q Hotel – The Nottingham Belfry on November 20th 2010.

Tickets for the event are a minimum of £65, pay more and the difference goes to charity

The Nottingham Belfry have kindly offered bookers a special room rate of £70 per room per night for a single and £80 per room per night for a twin/double – these prices include breakfast.  Bookings should be made direct with the hotel, (0115 9739393) and you can get this special rate by quoting FBF or Fighting Back Fundraiser.

They have also arranged a special rate with the Premiere Inn (Phoenix Centre – NG8 6AS) only 5 mins away of £60 per room per night. This special price will be held until the 30th September 2010 and the code to quote BELL 123, for this rate call 08701 977200 and press option 1.

To book your place for this very special evening contact carlyrathmell@yahoo.co.uk for a booking form and further details.

Riders For Health 2010 - Auctioning Rossi's Helmet

The World Champion Darts player Andy Fordham along with AP Kawasaki Team Manager Alan Greig, are to launch a British Superbike Darts League for 2011 to raise funds for Riders For Health.

Fordham was spotted on the grid at the Brands Hatch round of the Superbike Championship alongside John Wainwright who was racing in the Metzeler National Superstock 600cc series.  The two met when Wainwright visited his local pub previously owned at the time by the darts player in his hometown.

Leon Haslam is also known to love the sport of darts and a match was held in the Alstare garage between the rider and Fordham.  Haslam reportedly beat Fordham before the pair began to throw darts at a picture of Max Biaggi that had been pinned to the board!

The darts league will be open to all riders and teams in the series with 100% of the nominal fee going directly to the Riders For Health fund.

Mike Edwards battles with Jeremy McWilliams at Brands Hatch

RidersMotorcycles.com completed a remarkable weekend at Brands Hatch with Mike Edwards finishing second in both of the Harley-Davidson series races, making five podium places for the team with Michael Rutter’s perfomances in the British Superbike Championship.

Edwards had the crowd on their feet as he battled with his arch rival and former GP racer Jeremy McWilliams for supremacy at the Kent track.

The pair pulled well away from the chasing pack creating their own personal duel in a spectacle that thrilled the Brands Hatch crowd particularly along the start finish straight where they were repeatedly side by side.

But it was McWilliams who finished both races in front to take maximum points and goes into the final round at Cadwell Park in prime position.

Edwards is hoping that the technical qualities of the Cadwell track will lever the advantage towards his RidersMotorcycles.com team at the Bank Holiday meeting and is relishing the final showdown. He said;

“The RidersMotorcycles.com Harley-Davidson is working really well. The XR1200s are great on the street but are long heavy bikes to use as racing machines but I can’t fault our bike’s handling or performance. The guys in the race shop have done a great job setting the machine up to suit me. If anything we lacked a bit of top speed on the long fast Brands straights against Jeremy but get us to the next round at Cadwell Park, where it’s a much more technical track, and it’ll hopefully be a different story.”

Fourteen points separate the two riders going into the final round and Edwards will have to winn all three races to be in with a serious shout of the title, but Riders boss Phil Jessopp said;

“Mike may not have won at Brands but he played a major part in two closely fought races that the fans loved. Cadwell is going to be tough but Mike’s up for it and we’re looking forward to a really good showdown.”