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

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.”

Michael Rutter ensures a place in final showdown of BSB 2010

Michael Rutter continued his sensational form at Brands Hatch over last weekend, ensuring his place in the final six Title Fighters who will go into the final three round showdown to decide the British Superbike title.

Much against my initial judgement Michael Rutter has grown in stature as the season has gone on, he appears to be riding better than ever this season and it has been a joy to watch his fantastic riding style and commitment in recent races.

He has produced some of the most outrageous overtaking maneuvers always looking at one with his machine and his results speak for themselves, competing with a two year old Ducati against the latest machinery of the opposing teams.

Rutter claimed pole position for the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati team on Saturday and was leading the race when it was red flagged due to the rain. In the re-start he finished in second place.

The first race on Sunday was also stopped due to an accident involving Andrew Pitt and Alastair Seeley, at this point Rutter was in second place. After the re-start he managed to finish the race in third place, a feat that was repeated in the final race of the day, giving Rutter three podium places over the weekend.

Rutter said:  “It’s been a brilliant weekend for the team. I think I could have gone with Sykes and Kiyo in Sunday’s first race but I just didn’t have the grip after five laps. The temperature had gone up and made the track greasy. I know it’s the same for everyone  – I could see Kiyo struggling too – but you were never quite sure of the grip levels and it seemed a better idea to score points rather than risking everything. I also had a battle with Michael Laverty in that one but it’s all about getting podium credits now so there was no way I was going to let him through.”

Team boss Phil Jessopp was delighted and said: “Everything is going to plan. Michael has now qualified for the final Showdown and we’re confident of a good run in those final three rounds. It’s a pity the organisers changed the point-scoring system for this year from the previous system of points counting from the entire season. The championship has never been more finely balanced with only 28 points covering the top five. But either way, the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati is going to be up there battling for the title.”

Brands Hatch 2010 Race 1

This weekend saw the triple header take place at the circuit of Brands Hatch in Kent with Alastair Seeley winning the Saturday race and Tom Sykes taking both wins on Sunday.

Race 1 (Saturday)

The Saturday race began with Michael Rutter, who qualified in pole position, leading the two HM Plant Honda riders Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari until the mid-way stage.

Rutter looked to be on to take his second win of the season until the rain began leading to the race being red flagged and a wet race being called.  As the newly shortened 10 lap race restarted it was Rutter who once again led the pack into the first bend ahead of Kiyonari.

Alastair Seeley had moved up from sixth place on the grid to during the first few bends to pass Rutter as they headed into the Graham Hill bend leaving the Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati rider and Kiyonari to chase him down.

Rutter was left to settle for second position followed by Kiyonari in third, Josh Brookes in fourth, Tom Sykes in fifth, Michael Laverty in sixth, James Ellison in seventh, Yukio Kagayama in eighth, John Laverty in ninth and Ian Lowry in tenth.

Tommy Hill was forced to start from the back of the grid for the re-start of the race after failing to line-up in time and could only manage a fifteenth place finish.

Here are the results;

1.  Alastair Seeley  GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki  16mins 22.271s
2. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +0.298s
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +1.470s
4. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +2.926
5. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki SRT +14.320s
6. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +17.241s
7. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +21.713s
8. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +23.516s
9. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +24.738s
10. Ian Lowry GBR Kawasaki SRT +26.213s
11. Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha +27.731s
12. Tommy Bridewell GBR Tyco Honda +29.819s
13. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +29.897s
14. Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia +33.393s
15. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +34.253s
16. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Spike Suzuki +35.063s
17. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +36.407s
18. David Johnson AUS Becsport Suzuki +37.148s
19. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha +37.428s
20. Hudson Kennaugh RSA Splitlath Aprilia +40.478s
21. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +45.684s
22. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +45.854s
23. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +48.342s
24. Pauli Pekkanen FIN 777 RR Motorsport Suzuki +50.388s
25. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Finance Honda +1min 24.983s
26. Michael O’Brien GBR Motomob/O’Brien Yamaha +1min 29.226s

DNS Steve Heneghan IRL Quattro Plant Honda

Race 2 (Sunday)

Race 2 was also split into two parts after race 1 winner Alastair Seeley high-sided coming out of Surtees on lap 4, although the rider was uninjured his Relentless Suzuki was left stranded on the crest of the Hill and unseen by Andrew Pitt who caught the wheel.  Pitt was thrown heavily from his Motorpoint Yamaha forcing the race to be stopped while he was attended to at the side of the track by the medical team before being taken to the medical centre.  Pitt was transferred to hospital and has been diagnosed with a collarbone broken in three places.

The re-start consisted of 14 laps but was missing the second HM Plant Honda rider Josh Brookes who had crashed out at Druids whilst leading the race and had returned to the pits meaning that he would not be able to take part in the second start.

Michael Rutter was on pole position ahead of Kiyonari, Sykes and Michael Laverty but it was Sykes that moved into second position, passing Kiyonari before the end of the first lap.  Sykes then began to chase down the race leader Rutter before passing him on lap 4.

Kiyonari managed to get past Rutter and was tailing Sykes but could not get close enough to pass the Kawasaki rider leaving him to finish in second place with Rutter in third.  Michael Laverty crossed the line in fourth ahead of James Ellison in fifth, Tommy Hill in sixth, Stuart Easton in seventh, Yukio Kagayama in eighth, Dan Linfoot in ninth and Gary Mason in tenth.

Here are the results;

1.  Tom Sykes  GBR Kawasaki SRT  20mins 19.948secs
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +1.118s
3. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +3.497s
4. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +4.000s
5. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +4.189s
6. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +11.142s
7. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +11.812s
8. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +11.937s
9. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +15.507s
10. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +15.637s
11. Ian Lowry GBR Kawasaki SRT +20.513s
12. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +25.373s
13. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha +27.994s
14. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +33.430s
15. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +33.629s

Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha
Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki
Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda
John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki
David Johnson AUS Becsport Suzuki

Race 3

It was a fantastic day for the Kawasaki SRT team after the World Superbike rider Tom Sykes took his second win of the day at Brands Hatch.

It was Michael Laverty that started on pole position for race 3 ahead of Ryuichi Kiyonari and Tom Sykes but it was Kiyonari that took to the front as the race got underway.

Sykes soon moved into second position and began to chase down the HM Plant Honda of Kiyonari who was unable to get away from the approaching Kawasaki.  Sykes managed to get into the slipstream of the Honda and slide through into the lead on lap 5 leaving Kiyonari to once again finish in second place ahead of Michael Rutter in third.

Michael Laverty crashed out on lap 14 while challenging Rutter for the final step of the podium and Alastair Seeley also had his second fall of the day at Paddock Hill Bend.

Tommy Hill crossed the line in fourth place followed by James Ellison, Josh Brookes, Yukio Kagayama, Stuart Easton, John Laverty and Simon Andrews.

Ryuichi Kiyonari is now leading the championship standings ahead of Tommy Hill and Josh Brookes.

Here are the results;

1.  Tom Sykes  GBR Kawasaki SRT  28mins 56.799secs
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +0.563s
3. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +4.788s
4. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +6.531s
5. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +11.804s
6. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +11.910s
7. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +13.927s
8. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +20.929s
9. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +21.181s
10. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +25.089s
11. Ian Lowry GBR Kawasaki SRT +30.719s
12. Tommy Bridewell GBR Tyco Honda +33.271s
13. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +39.166s
14. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha +52.013s
15. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +52.699s

John Reynolds Rizla Suzuki 2004

The 1992, 2001 and 2004 British Superbike Champion John Reynolds is confirmed as the guest rider at this weekends round of the championship at Brands Hatch.

Reynolds won the title on the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 before his retirement in 2005 and is still involved in the series as a Suzuki GB race director.

The 47-year-old is looking forward to riding the GSV-R800 and will also be joined at the Suzuki GSX-R 25th Anniversary celebrations by Leon Haslam on the World Superbike Alstare Suzuki along with Sylvain Guintoli and the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista.

Tom Grant - East Coast Yamaha

Tom Grant has been signed by the Gearlink Kawasaki team to ride for them at the Brands Hatch round of the British Supersport championship on the 8th August.

Grant was given the chance to test ride for the team last week at Mallory Park and they were so impressed with his effort they signed him to ride at the next round.

The 22-year-old Yorkshire rider finished eighth in the 2009 championship with the East Coast Yamaha team with a top finish of third place.

Grant is replacing the teams current rider Jamie Hamilton who has now parted company with the Kawasaki squad after a dismal season.  Hamilton, who is the reigning Metzeler National Superstock 600 champion, has only managed a top score of fourteenth place so far after a disastrous season which has seen him not only break his collarbone but also having his motor-home raided and all his equipment stolen.

michael rutter @ snetterton

RidersMotorcycles.com racer Michael Rutter was robbed of a possible win in the first of Sunday’s two races at Snetterton when his gear lever snapped off while leading the race and left his bike stuck in sixth gear.

Having finished Saturday’s race in a strong fourth position, Rutter looked in exceptional form all weekend.

In Sunday’s first race starting sixth on the grid, Rutter made a brilliant start, moving into second place by the first corner and leading the race by the end of the first lap.

Half a second clear of nearest rival Josh Brookes at the halfway stage of the race things went pear shaped for the Ducati rider when his gear lever snapped.

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  back to normal racing lines – the fastest way around the course – and then the gap opened up again.”

In race two on Sunday Rutter was once again mixing it with the best, with some stunning overtaking manouvres and a generally outstanding ride.  Sadly it was not quite enough to make the podium as Rutter finished fourth once again.

“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.”

Rutter remains in fifth place overall in the British Superbike Championship going into round 8 at Brands Hatch. Team owner Phil Jessopp said; “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.”