ISILON MSS Discovery Kawasaki scooped more points at Oulton Park today at the fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike championship and MAXXIS British Supersport series. Stuart Easton showed early promise aboard his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, running in fourth place on the first lap before the 23-year-old former champ ran on at the Hislop Chicane on lap three, rejoining the race down in 14th place. He then managed to fight back to 10th place at the flag. In the Superbike class, Michael Rutter experienced tyre problems in race one, which saw him struggle in the last half of the race but he held on to grab the final point. In the second race the 34-year-old from Kirkby Mallory was baulked on the first lap as riders tentatively tested the track conditions following a pre-race rain shower. He managed to claw his way back to 13th place at the end of the race.
Michael Rutter, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R (15th & 13th positions)
“I love this circuit so much which makes the results all the more disappointing. In the first race we had an issue with grip towards the end of the race, meaning that I couldn’t push hard at the end and we got swamped. In the second I was baulked on the first lap after probably being a bit too cautious in the first corner. I had a slide on the warm-up lap so was extra careful in there, which left me down the order. It’s a big shame as I think we could have been in the top ten once more. On the positive side of things, we finished both races and got some points, but I want better from Snetterton.”
Stuart Easton, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R (10th position)
“I’m gutted that we looked fairly strong in those early laps only for me to run-on at the chicane. After that I had to dig-deep and scrap with the mid-pack to get up to tenth. I’m disappointed for the team who have worked so hard and wanted a good result here. All we can do is try and put it behind us and look to the next race.”
Nick Morgan, Team Owner:
“For us this has been a disappointing weekend and we wanted better. Michael’s rear Dunlop went off early in the first race, which hampered his progress towards the end of the race – where we’re normally very strong. Then in the second race Michael was down in 17th at the end of the first lap and had to play catch-up. Luck also deserted us in the Supersport race with Stuart running on at the chicane. We’re going to try 100% for better results at Snet.”
Stuart Simmonds, joint team Owner:
“It’s true that we wanted and were expecting better results from today’s races, but we have to be positive that we didn’t have any DNFs and we did take some points, even if it’s not the kind of points haul that we were expecting. We’ve now got to move on to the next event at Snetterton and aim for better.”
Bennetts British Superbike Championship: Race 1
1. Gregorio Lavilla
2. Leon Haslam
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari
4. Jonathan Rea
5. Tom Sykes
15: Michael Rutter, ISILON MSS Discovery Kawasaki
Best lap: 1m 38.026s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship: Race 2
1. Ryuichi Kiyonari
2. Leon Haslam
3. Shane Byrne
4. Gregorio Lavilla
5. Jonathan Rea
13. Michael Rutter, ISILON MSS Discovery Kawasaki
Best lap: 1m 38.432s
MAXXIS British Supersport Championship Race:
1. Dennis Hobbs
2. Ian Lowry
3. Michael Laverty
4. Guy Sanders
5. John McGuinness
10. Stuart Easton, ISILON MSS Discovery Kawasaki
Best lap: 1m 41.386s
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