Mixed Weekend for NW200 Ducati
It was a mixed weekend for the NW200 Ducati team at the rescheduled
Brands Hatch round. In completely contrasting weather conditions
from the cancelled race in April the two riders Michael Rutter
and John Laverty secured varying results in the two 20-lap
Bennetts British Superbike races. Rutter on the Ducati F08
was unfortunate to crash out of race one but secured a solid
fifth place in race two, team-mate John Laverty on the Ducati
1098 R took a third and a confident win in the two Daily Star
Cup races in glorious sunshine at the Kent circuit.
With the qualifying positions already decided at the original
round Rutter lined up on the grid in seventh place and John
Laverty first in the Daily Star Cup (14th overall). Two 30-minute
sessions yesterday did not give the riders the ideal time
they required to get the two bikes set up properly for the
races.
Rutter crashed out of race one on lap 13 whilst battling
for seventh place with James Ellison. A strong start by Rutter
was short lived when he was blocked into the first corner,
Paddock Hill Bend, pushing him back to 11th after the opening
lap. Fighting hard Rutter looked good and was consistently
running fast times but lost the front going into Surtees,
cutting his race short.
In the second race Rutter gained and awesome start and was
fourth into the first corner. A charging Shakey Byrne and
Leon Camier managed to find away past the North West 200 rider
by the end of the fifth lap but the West Midlands based rider
dug deep and fought his way back through to fifth. Tom Sykes
blew an engine on lap 19 and the race was red-flagged and
a race result was declared. The 36-year-old, who is preparing
for the North West 200 this forthcoming week, is still sitting
in fourth place in the overall Championship.
Michael Rutter commented "I'd been struggling a bit
with the front end during free practice yesterday, due to
the short sessions we had, it was hard to find the problem
and try and rectify them fully. I was pushing hard in the
first race as I could see the leaders getting away. After
getting blocked into the first corner I think I was riding
a little harder than normal and just tucked the front end
going into Surtees. The second race was much better and I
got a great start and was eager to finish and keep a good
position in the Championship. I could see the leading pack
making a gap but I wanted to secure a solid result for the
team, I'm a bit disappointed but I still got some good points
in the second race and have a good position in the Championship.
I leave for the North West tomorrow so it's a busy few weeks,
the North West is one event in the year that I really look
forward to and this year would be a great year for me to get
some good results there with the team's association with the
event."
John Laverty on the Buildbase Ducati further extended his
lead in the Daily Star Cup Championship today by 39-points
from his nearest rival Martin Jessopp. Laverty took two solid
podium finishes including the race win in the second race.
After crashing during the second practice session yesterday
Laverty missed out on valuable track time as he currently
only has bike to compete on. Laverty was locked in a tight
scrap for second in the cup in race one with Martin Jessopp
who is riding the ex Stobart Honda, only 0.8 separated the
pair as they crossed the line with Jessopp making a pass on
Laverty on the final lap.
Race two was a different matter for the Ulsterman, feeling
happier on the bike he rode a strong and confident race and
was dicing in a battle of 11 riders for ninth place overall.
Fending off the challenges from Aaron Zanotti and Luke Quigley
he took his fourth win from six races and 13th overall in
the main Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
Speaking with John Laverty he said "I was really annoyed
with myself after the first race as I just couldn't get comfortable
on the bike. I'm still running the Metzeler front tyres and
they are really difficult to ride on. Plus with me still being
on a stock bike I don't have the same specifications on my
bike as the other cup riders, I have different forks and also
a smaller radiator, which in the boiling hot conditions today
my bike was getting too hot and causing me to lose power.
I struggled in race one but I'm much happier about my second
race result and once again I've pulled an extra advantage
in the overall Cup Championship. I'm looking forward to Donington
in a few weeks time as it's a track I like a lot and hopefully
I'll be able to get some good results there too."
Race 1 Result
1 Byrne Ducati
2 Sykes Suzuki
3 Crutchlow Honda
Race 1 Cup Result
1 Burns MV Agusta
2 Jessopp Honda
3 Laverty Buildbase Ducati
Race 2 Result
1 Crutchlow Honda
2 Byrne Ducati
3 Camier Ducati
4 M Laverty Suzuki
5 Rutter North West 200 Ducati
Race 2 Cup Result
1 J Laverty Buildbase Ducati
2 Quigley Suzuki
3 Jessopp Honda
Championship Points
Byrne 140
Crutchlow 96
Camier 83
Rutter 66
Cup Championship Points
Laverty 126
Jessopp 87
Burns 81
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