The NW200 Ducati team secured a stunning start to the Bennett British Superbike season at Thruxton Circuit. With Michael Rutter taking two superb third positions and John Laverty winning both the Daily Star Cup races. Rutter gained his first double podium since Knockhill in 2005, in doing so he picked up the Eurosport 'Rider of the Day' award and John Laverty was exceptional on the standard 1098R Ducati in the Cup.
After cold and wet conditions throughout the weekend the sun finally managed to break through for the two 20-lap races today (Sunday 20th April). Rutter qualified third on the grid in wet conditions yesterday with John Laverty in ninth.
The duo both gained fantastic starts in both races and Rutter on the North West 200 Ducati settled in well and dropped a place to fourth at the end of the first lap. The Midlands based rider kept the factory Honda's of Crutchlow and Haslam and the Ducati of Byrne firmly in his sights. Conserving his Pirelli tyres Rutter timed the race to perfection and on lap 18 took advantage of the wearing tyres of Haslam making a confident move on him at the Complex for the final podium spot. John Laverty on the Buildbase NW200 Ducati rode a hard and solid race and finished 12th overall in the Championship, easily securing him the Cup win.
Race two was action packed and Rutter once again was sitting in fourth position after the opening lap and John Laverty in an incredible seventh place. However by lap seven a huge crash involving Karl Harris and Tom Sykes forced the race to be red flagged and re-started as a 15-lap race. Rutter gained a great start in the re-start and was in third position after lap one and John Laverty in ninth. Rutter was dicing hard with the factory Suzuki of Tom Sykes and managed to find a way past on the seventh lap and was comfortably in second place for six laps when he was passed by race one winner Shane Byrne. The former team-mates battled hard to the end and only 0.3 separated the two riders at the chequered flag, Cal Crutchlow went on to win the race with Byrne in second and Rutter a fine third. John Laverty fought a solid race, convincingly taking the Daily Star Cup win and finishing 11th overall in the main Championship.
A delighted Rutter said;
"It's a mega feeling to be back up at the front and it's been a long time coming. The whole team have worked so hard all weekend and this is a awesome result for everyone. I couldn't have asked for better and I am confident we can continue this form through the rest of the season. I'd like to thank the whole team for working so hard this weekend and really pleased I could pull two good results out of the bag for them. I've had a few difficult years and I'm loving being back on a Ducati."
John Laverty said;
"I'm really pleased to have got the first races under my belt and I now have a comfortable 20 point lead in the Daily Star Cup series. The bike felt brilliant all weekend and considering I'm still on a very much standard road bike I'm very happy where I ended up in the main Championship. I was having a battle with my brother Michael throughout the weekend and hopefully I'll be able to get the better of him at some point. I'd like to thank all my team for working as hard as they have and they deserve this result."
Team Manager Ken Foley commented;
"I'm over the moon with the results that the two riders have gained today and we couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. It has made all the work over the last six or seven month worthwhile and we are definitely going in the direction that we had hoped for and it would be good for us if we can continue this form throughout the season and carry on achieving similar results. We're looking forward to getting to Oulton Park in a couple of weeks time."
Race One Result:
1, Shane Byrne, (Ducati)
2, Cal Crutchlow (Honda)
3, Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati)
4, Leon Haslam (Honda)
5, Leon Camier (Ducati)
6, Tom Sykes (Suzuki)
7, James Ellison (Honda)
8, Simon Andrews (Yamaha)
9, Stuart Easton
10, Michael Laverty (Suzuki)
Race One Cup Results:
John Laverty (Buildbase NW200 Ducati)
Chris Burns (MV Agusta)
Steve Mercer (Yamaha)
Race Two Result:
1, Cal Crutchlow (Honda)
2, Shane Byrne, (Ducati)
3, Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati)
4, Leon Camier (Ducati)
5, Michael Laverty (Suzuki)
6, Stuart Easton (Kawasaki)
7, James Ellison (Honda)
8, Tom Sykes (Suzuki)
9, Guy Martin (Honda)
10, Billy McConnell (Kawasaki)
Race Two Cup Results:
John Laverty (Buildbase NW200 Ducati)
Martin Jessopp (Honda)
Malcolm Ashley (Kawasaki)
Championship Standings:
1, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 45 pts
2, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 45 pts
3, Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) 32 pt
4, Leon Camier (Ducati) 24 pts
5, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 18 pts
6, James Ellison (Honda) 18 pts
7, Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) 17 pts
8, Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 17 pts
9, Leon Haslam (Honda) 13 pts
10, John Laverty (Ducati) 9 pts
Daily Star Cup Championship Standings:
John Laverty (Buildbase NW200 Ducati) 50 pts
Martin Jessopp (Honda) 30pts
Malcolm Ashley (Kawasaki) 29
Words by Carly Rathmell
Images supplied by DoubleRed
