The NW200 Ducati team closed off the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship in style this weekend at Brands Hatch with riders Michael Rutter on the North West 200 F08 Ducati gaining a seventh place and sixth place respectively in the two 30-lap races. His team-mate John Laverty on Buildbase NW200 Ducati secured 13th and fantastic eighth place in the overall Championship and a second and a win in the Daily Star Cup races.
Despite a crash in the opening stages of the F1 style qualifying session, Michael Rutter still managed to qualify in eighth position on the grid and was eager to tackle the small Indy circuit. Riding his 300th Superbike race in the opening race today at Brands the 36-year-old was keen to try and secure two good results to mark this mile-stone in his career.
Gaining a good start in race one he remained in eighth position at the end of the opening lap and with very few passing places on the 1.2-mile track, Rutter was riding a lonely race, with Michael Laverty pulling out in the closing stages he moved through to seventh at the end of the 30-laps.
Rutter struggled on the start of race two and got boxed into the opening corner and fell back to ninth after lap one, pushing hard Rutter soon began making progress through the field and worked his way through the pack. Hunting down Tom Sykes and James Ellison, the West Midlands based rider was hoping to make a pass in the closing stages of the race. Sykes was forced out with a bike problem and despite putting in consistently strong laps towards the end of the race Rutter was unable to get the better of Ellison. Gaining a sixth in the race Michael Rutter also took a strong sixth place in the overall Championship standings for the North West 200 Ducati team.
Commenting Rutter said,"It's definitely been a good end to the season and even though race one was a bit of a lonely race I'm pleased with the second race result. I was riding really hard to try and catch Tom (Sykes) and James (Ellison) but it just wasn't to be. I've had a really enjoyable season with the North West 200 Ducati team and would like to thank everyone that has helped us through the year to help us achieve the results that we have. Special thanks must go to Jason, Rick, Broady, Mick, K-Tech and all the others who have helped me so much over the year, also Alistair and Adele Kennedy for making it all happen. Plus all the others sponsors and rest of the team who have made all this possible throughout the season, thank you."
John Laverty rode two exceptional races and finished the season with his best overall result of the year with an eighth, he was also on the podium in both of the Daily Star Cup races. Winning the Daily Star Cup Championship comfortably the young Ulsterman finished 17th in the overall series.
Said Laverty,"I'm really happy to have finished the season on such a high note and with my best result of the year so far. All the Buildbase Ducati team have worked so hard over the year and it was nice to repay them with this result at the end of it all. Brad, One Hole and Dave have all worked all hours to get everything perfect, and thanks must go to them and also Mick, K-tech and most importantly Steve Thompstone from Buildbase for all his support."
Race 1 Result: 1. Byrne Ducati
2. Crutchlow Honda
3. Ellison Honda
7. Rutter North West 200 Ducati Race 1 Cup Result: 1. Mason Honda
2. Laverty Buildbase Ducati3. Etheridge Kawasaki
Race 2 Result: 1. Byrne Ducati
2. Haslam Honda
3. Camier Ducati
6. Rutter North West 200 Ducati 8. Laverty Buildbase Ducati Race 2 Cup Result: 1. Laverty Buildbase Ducati2. Mason Honda
3. Burns MV Agusta
Championship Points: 1. Byrne 474
2. Haslam 357
3. Crutchlow 318
6. Rutter 256 Cup Championship Points: Laverty 469 - 2008 ChampionJessopp 328
