From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

SUZUKI TAKES BSB CHAMPIONSHIP!


John Reynolds crushed the opposition to win both races at the penultimate round of the 2004 Think! British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park today and take his first double victory of the season, as Suzuki clinched the Manufacturers Championship with one round to go.

Reynolds commanded both races from the front and never looked as though he would be headed as he brought his Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 home well ahead of the competition.

With seven wins to his name, he now leads the Championship by 43 points from Honda’s Michael Rutter with only 50 points left to score at the final round of the series at Donington Park next weekend.

But Suzuki is the champion on 503 points and cannot be beaten by Honda, who trail on 416 points.

Reynolds’ team mate Yukio Kagayama battled bravely in both races to take a pair of podium thirds and cement himself firmly in third place in the overall standings: Kagayama rode both races with the aim of helping his team mate as his priority and was the first person ‘JR’ thanked when he got off his bike.

John Reynolds:

“We needed that today! I don’t want to win this Championship by finishing fifth or sixth and hanging on to a slender lead. I want to win it from the front like a true Champion. Well done to Rizla Suzuki and my team for taking the Manufacturers Championship, I hope I can add another title to that next weekend!

“Thanks to my entire Rizla Suzuki team for all the hard work that has been put in. Yuki was brilliant defending my lead in the second race and I owe him a beer. Special thanks go to Dunlop for providing me with two brilliant race tyres and finally, thank you to all the fans who cheered me round the circuit – I heard you!”

Yuko Kagayama:

“This was the best result possible today for me. My Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 is very well set-up and I have much confidence in my bike. In race one I had a poor start and third am a good result. In race two I was second for most of the time and only just got edged to third on the last lap.

“Well done to John-san; he has made big points gap today with not many points left to score. It is a very happy day for Rizla Suzuki as we are Manufacturer Champions in 2004. This makes me smile. I am Suzuki Factory rider and I am proud.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:

“We have pulled through a few difficult rounds and come out the other side with a fantastic result. The first double of the year by ‘JR’ shows he is back to the top of his game. Knowing John, he won’t be turning up looking for just enough points at Donington to secure the title, he’ll be looking to win the Championship with victory in the races and we’ll be giving him our full backing to achieve that.

“What a ride by Yuki! His grit and determination in the first race brought him from 10th on the first lap to third by the end. In the second race he did a sterling job holding off Michael Rutter and letting ‘JR’ build up a lead before just losing out on second place at the line. Regardless, he is now a strong third in the series and on the Championship podium where he belongs.

“We have been to the final round at Donington and only laps away from winning the Championship before – and that time we missed out. We will be doing everything in our ability and power to take the Championship next weekend and bring the number one plate home for ‘JR’. Rizla Suzuki is the deserved winner of the Manufacturers title and we hope to add to that…Thanks to all our partners and fans for their continued support… we hope to see you at Donington.”

Race One Result: 1: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) 29:36.353, 2: Michael Rutter (Honda) +4.458, 3: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) +9.998, 4: Sean Emmett (Ducati) +10.093, 5: Steve Plater (Yamaha) +19.964, 6: Glen Richards (Kawasaki) +20.098, 7: Dean Thomas (Ducati) +21.188, 8: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +25.612, 9: Tommy Hi ll ( Yamaha) +29.555, 10: Paul Brown (Ducati) +33.398.

Race Two Result: 1: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) 29:33.529, 2: Rutter +2.873, 3: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) +3.184, 4: Emmett +10.163, 5: Thomas +10.180, 6: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +19.951, 7: Plater +31.243, 8: James Haydon (Yamaha) +31.288, 9: Richards +31.856, 10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +37.095.

Championship Positions: 1: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) 420, 2: Rutter 377, 3: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) 322, 4: Smart 304, 5: Emmett 288, 6: Kiyonari 184, 7: Thomas 175, 8: Haydon 165, 9: Hill 129, 10: Richards 115.


More, from a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

DNF COSTS SMART THIRD PLACE IN POINTS STANDINGS

The twelfth round of the THINK! British Superbike Championship, at Oulton Park, proved to be one of the toughest meetings of the year for the Hawk Kawasaki team. A DNF and two crashes – one in qualifying and one in this morning’s warm-up – cost Scott Smart his third place in the championship standings, as well as several layers of skin.

Smarty was left battered and bruised after a collision with Honda-mounted Kiyonari at Shell Oils chicane during morning warm-up. “Kiyo’s bike suddenly slowed due to a technical problem and I was left nowhere to go,” he explained. “My front wheel clipped his back wheel and I went over the highside, landing on my left arm and shoulder. I was bruised, but my bike came off worse.”

His number one bike was too badly damaged to be used in the opening race, so Smart was forced to use his number two machine. Worse still, he had to start from the back of the grid after failing to make it out onto the formation lap in time.

Despite the set-back, Smart charged through the field and into ninth place in just eight laps. His charge was halted on lap 11, however, when the race was stopped due to deteriorating weather conditions. Starting from ninth on the grid in the restart Smart once again made a bid for the front, leap-frogging to sixth on the road in just one lap. After battling with his Hawk team-mate, Glen Richards, Smart crossed the line in sixth, a place behind Richards and eighth on corrected time.

The second 18 lap race looked more promising for the former British 250 champion when he slotted into fourth at the first turn. But as he settled in with the front runners Smart ran on at Hizzy’s chicane, dropping back to tenth place in the process. Despite battling on and once again moving through the field, the Hawk rider’s injuries finally got the better of him on lap 13 and he was forced to retire.

“I was doing quite well after running on at the chicane and I made my way back up to the second group, but I lost the front going into Foulston’s chicane and ran straight on again,” he explained. “I felt really weird after that and was hurting quite badly so I pulled in. If I hadn’t had that off in qualifying I would have qualified higher, run better in the races and could have got a result, but that’s racing I guess.”

John McGuinness’ day was equally testing. The TT winner suffered arm-pump in the first 18-lapper, in which he finished thirteenth, and was then taken out at Hizzy’s chicane on the first lap of the second race.

“Well, it’s not been the best of days,” he said. “I was just settling into the group on the opening lap of the second race, lining myself up for the chicane, and then I felt a smack from behind. The next thing I know I’m flying through the air and my race is over. I saw Kieran Clarke as I was rolling, so I knew it was him who ran into me. It’s really annoying because you can’t win a race on the first lap so there’s no need for people to ride like that. Hopefully we’ll have better luck at Donington.”

Glen Richards proved to be Hawk’s highest points scorer of the day, taking a fine sixth in the first race and ninth in the second. The Aussie had hoped to improve on his first race performance in the second outing, but a harder rear tyre robbed him of vital grip and the chance of a top five finish.

“Having an aggregate race in the first was probably better for me because it gave my arm a rest, but it was a shame to miss out on fifth,” he said. “I must have slowed down too much on the last lap, and that let Steve Plater pip me, but sixth is a pretty good result. In the second the rear tyre was no good and I ended up having a good look at the front wheel a few times, I can tell you. I was lucky to bring it home really, it was just too hard.”

Hawk Kawasaki Team Principal commented: “You need luck in racing and good luck is like bad luck – it runs out. We’ve got to take positives away from the weekend, such as the bikes are a lot quicker than they were earlier in the year. Scott’s knocked himself about this weekend and that made it hard work. He had a good first race, Glen’s worked really hard and gone quicker than he’s ever been around here before, and that’s a positive. It’s a pity he changed to a different tyre in the second race because he had no grip. If he’d stuck with the one he had in the first I think he’d have been fifth. Sometimes you have bad luck, but for sure we’ll be back and up for it next week.”

BSB RACE 1

1) John Reynolds, Suzuki. 2) Michael Rutter, Honda. 3) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki. 4) Sean Emmett, Ducati. 5) Steve Plater, Yamaha. 6) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki. 7) Dean Thomas, Ducati. 8) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki. 9) Tommy Hill, Yamaha. 10) Paul Brown, Ducati. 11) Gary Mason, Yamaha. 12) Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda. 13) John McGuinness, Hawk Kawasaki. 14) James Haydon, Yamaha. 15) James Ellison, Yamaha (P)

(P)= Privateer

Fastest lap: Sean Emmett, Ducati, 1:37.200, 99.70mph

BSB RACE 2

1) John Reynolds, Suzuki. 2) Michael Rutter, Honda. 3) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki. 4) Sean Emmett, Ducati. 5) Dean Thomas, Ducati. 6) Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda. 7) Steve Plater, Yamaha. 8) James Haydon, Yamaha. 9) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki. 10) Tommy Hill, Yamaha. 11) Kieran Clarke, Yamaha. 12) Craig Coxhell, Honda. 13) James Ellison, Yamaha (P). 14) Jon Kirkham, Suzuki (P). 15) James Buckingham, Suzuki (P)

Fastest lap: Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 1:37.471, 99.42mph

BSB CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER 11 ROUNDS

1) John Reynolds, Suzuki, 420. 2) Michael Rutter, Honda, 377. 3) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 322. 4) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki, 304. 5) Sean Emmett, Ducati, 288. 6) Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 184. 7) Dean Thomas, Ducati, 175. 8) James Haydon, Yamaha, 165. 9) Tommy Hill, Yamaha, 129. 10) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki, 115. 11) Gary Mason, Yamaha, 105. 12) James Ellison, Yamaha, 99. 13) Craig Coxhell, Honda, 91. 14) John McGuinness, Hawk Kawasaki, 81. 15) Kieran Clarke, Yamaha, 76


MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER 11 ROUNDS

1) Suzuki, 503. 2) Honda, 416. 3) Kawasaki, 338. 4) Ducati, 327. 5) Yamaha, 263


More, from a press release issued by MSS Discovery Kawasaki:

MSS DISCOVERY’S RIBA NINTH IN SUPERSPORT AS ALLAN TAKES 11TH IN SUPERSTOCK

MSS Discovery’s Pere Riba took ninth place in the penultimate round of the British Supersport Championship despite holding fourth place at the halfway stage of a thrilling battle at Oulton Park on Sunday.

Six riders were locked in the challenge, all chasing fourth place in one of the most frantic races of the year.

“The early part of the race was excellent for me before the rear tyre started causing me problems,” explained Riba. “I was feeling comfortable despite the race being very, very close and having five other riders around me.

“Then, from the halfway point, the rear tyre started letting go, I was losing grip with no warning and it was all very, very strange. We’ve had a similar problem earlier in the year but never as severe or inconsistent as today.”

Riba added: “It’s a real shame for the team after we worked so hard in practice to get a front row grid position. We’ll try and figure out what was going on and concentrate on going for a win at Donington Park next week.”

MSS Discovery’s Steve Allan grabbed 11th place in the two-part National Superstock Championship race aboard the ZX-10R to maintain sixth place in the championship point standings.

The original race was stopped after six laps due to rain and Allan battled through to a strong point-scoring position despite troubles in each race.

“Before the original race was stopped I was struggling with set-up,” said Allan. “With the rain on Friday we didn’t get enough track time. Then I went too hard from the start of the second part and wrecked my rear tyre.

“All in all it’s been far from the best of rounds for me but I’m really up for Donington Park next week and a double-header to finish the year with.”


British Supersport Championship, round 12 result (16 laps ­ 43.07 miles):

1 Karl Harris, Honda, 27m 04.288s ­ 95.46mph
2 Tom Sykes, Suzuki, 27m 06.136s
3 Jay Vincent, Honda, 27m 10.460s
4 Leon Camier, Honda, 27m 11.562s
5 Craig Jones, Triumph, 27m 13.731s
6 Stuart Easton, Ducati, 27m 14.054s
7 Cal Crutchlow, Honda, 27m 16.520s
8 Adrian Coates, Suzuki, 27m 16.918s
9 Pere Riba, MSS Discovery Kawasaki, 27m 18.940s
10 Kieran Murphy, Honda, 27m 19.144s

Championship points after 12 of 13 rounds: 1 Harris 222, 2 Vincent 183, 3 Michael Laverty (Ducati) 158, 4 Riba 117, 5 Sykes 107, 6 Camier 98, 7 Luke Quigley (Suzuki) 95, 8 Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 83, 9 Jones 68, 10 Crutchlow 66.
Final round: Donington Park, Leics ­ September 19.


National Superstock Championship, round 11 result (12 laps ­ 32.28 miles).

1 Danny Beaumont, Yamaha, 21m 04.850s
2 Ben Wilson, Suzuki, 21m 06.478s
3 Lee Jackson, Yamaha, 21m 12.584s
4 Andy Tinsley, Suzuki, 21m 18.919s
5 John Laverty, Yamaha, 21m 22.955s
6 Marshall Neill, Suzuki, 21m 27.937s
7 Ian Hutchinson, Suzuki, 21m 32.440s
8 Aaron Zanotti, Suzuki, 21m 34.038s
9 Mark Davies, Yamaha, 21m 34.348s
10 Ryan Rainey, Yamaha, 21m 35.845s
11 Steve Allan, MSS Discovery Kawasaki, 21m 39.334s

Championship points after 11 of 13 rounds: 1 Beaumont 173, 2 Tinsley 162, 3 Wilson 159, 4 Tristan Palmer (Suzuki) 157, 5 Les Shand (Yamaha) 100, 6 Allan 77, 7 Neill 63, 8 Howie Mainwaring (Yamaha) 54, 9 Julian da Costa (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) and Laverty 50.
Final rounds: Donington Park, Leics ­ September 19.


More, from a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

EMMETT MISSES OUT ON PODIUM AT OULTONPARK

MonsterMob Ducati rider Sean Emmett scored two solid fourth places in the penultimate round of the Think! British Superbike Championship at a windswept OultonParktoday.

The 34 year old Londoner qualified on the front row of the grid and was feeling confident for the day’s two races. He was handily placed in race one when the red flag came out as rain fell at the Cheshire circuit and in the combined restart ended up missing out on the podium by a fraction of a second as he had to settle for fourth.

In race two Emmett diced with fellow Ducati rider Dean Thomas before claiming fourth place in the race.

“That was much better than we expected as we had a disaster here last time, but the improvements to the rear suspension have really improved the bike and we were able to run up there with the leaders. I just missed out on the rostrum in the first race but got the new lap record, so its been a pretty encouraging weekend and we have closed in to just 16 points from fourth place in the Championship which we will have to aim for at Donington next weekend. It’s really good to be back up at the sharp end” said Emmett.

Meanwhile it was a day to forget for MonsterMob Supersport rider Michael Laverty when an electrical problem forced the young Ulsterman out on the opening lap. As a result Laverty remains in third position in the Championship standings going into the final round next weekend at DoningtonPark.

“I went on the rumble strips and the bike just cut out on me and I couldn’t get it re-started. I was up with the leaders in about fifth place but didn’t even make it to the first corner. It’s so disappointing but it’s just one of those things” said Laverty.

Team owner Paul Bird had the following to say about the weekend:

“That was a much better day, better than we expected with two good strong results. It’s been a disappointing day for Supersport with our first mechanical breakdown all year with a mysterious electrical problem. We’re looking forward to Donington next weekend.”

Superbike Race One Result

1, John Reynolds (Suzuki) 29m36.353s, 2, Michael Rutter (Honda) +4.458s, 3, Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) +9.998s, 4, Sean Emmett (MonsterMob Ducati) +10.093s, 5, Steve Plater (Yamaha) +19.964s, 6, Glen Richards (Kawasaki) +20.098s, 7, Dean Thomas (Ducati) +21.188, 8, Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +25.612s, 9, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +29.555, 10, Paul Brown (Ducati) +33.398s.

Superbike Race Two Result

1, John Reynolds (Suzuki) 29m33.529s, 2, Michael Rutter (Honda) +2.873s, 3, Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) +3.184s, 4, Sean Emmett (MonsterMob Ducati) +10.163s, 5, Dean Thomas (Ducati) +10.180s, 6, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +19.951s, 7, Steve Plater (Yamaha) +31.243s, 8, James Haydon (Yamaha) +31.288s, 9, Glen Richards (Kawasaki) +31.856s, 10, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +37.095s.

Supersport Race Result

1, Karl Harris (Honda) 27m04.288s, 2, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) +1.848s, 3, Jay Vincent (Honda) +6.172s, 4, Leon Camier (Honda) +7.274s, 5, Craig Jones (Triumph) +9.443s, 6, Stuart Easton (Ducati) +9.766s, 7, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +12.232s, 8, Adrian Coates (Suzuki) +12.630s, 9, Pere Riba (Kawasaki) +14.652s, 10, Kieran Murphy (Honda) +14.856s.

THINK! Superbike Championship Standings (after Round 24)

1, John Reynolds (Suzuki) 420 pts

2, Michael Rutter (Honda) 377 pts

3, Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) 322 pts

4, Scott Smart (Kawasaki) 304 pts

5, Sean Emmett (MonsterMob Ducati) 288 pts

6, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 184 pts

7, Dean Thomas (Ducati) 175 pts

8, James Haydon (Yamaha) 165 pts

9, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 129 pts

10, Glen Richards (Kawasaki) 115 pts



Supersport Championship Standings (after Round 12)

1, Karl Harris (Honda) 222 pts

2, Jay Vincent (Honda) 183 pts

3, Michael Laverty (MonsterMob Ducati) 158 pts

4, Pere Riba (Kawasaki) 117 pts

5, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 107 pts

6, Leon Camier (Honda) 98 pts

7, Luke Quigley (Suzuki) 95 pts

8, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 83 pts

9, Craig Jones (Triumph) 68 pts

10, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 66 pts


More, from a press release issued by Glynn Racing:

ANOTHER PODIUM PLACING FOR GLYNN AT OULTON

Following on from runner up placings at Thruxton, Mallory Park and Cadwell Park already this season, Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup rider Gareth Glynn added another second placing to his tally in today’s penultimate round at Oulton Park in Cheshire.

Despite the changeable weather which plagued the weekend at his local circuit, the 22 year old Motor Vehicle Technician from Lowton, Greater Manchester recorded his seventh successive front row start during Saturday’s qualifying session
and was looking strong in the early stages of the race before getting embroiled in a dice with the leading bunch. Glynn dropped behind the two leading riders but when Richard Wren and Adam Jenkinson crashed out, he was left to battle
it out for the lead once more. ‘

Glynn was well placed going into the last lap but any hopes he had of clinching his inaugural win in the series went when he nearly crashed exiting the Hizzy’s Chicane which meant he was unable to challenge eventual winner Guy Sanders.

“I was looking down at my bike on the last lap as I had a problem with the rear end and I wasn’t sure what it was. It was a hard race and I’m really pleased to be on the podium again but I desperately want that win at Donington. I’m
getting fed up with collecting second place trophies, now I want a winner’s one also” said Glynn who moved up to third place in the standings as a result.

The final round takes place at Donington on Sunday September 19th.

Virgin MobileYamaha R6 Cup Championship standings (after 11 rounds)

1 Richard Wren, 171pts

2 Ollie Bridewell, 137pts

3 Gareth Glynn, 119pts

4 James Hillier, 115pts

5 Guy Sanders 114pts

6 Adam Jenkinson 106pts



Virgin MobileYamaha R6 Cup 2004 Dates

Mar 28: Silverstone, Northamptonshire.

Apr 12: Brands Hatch Indy, Kent.

Apr 25: Snetterton, Norfolk.

May 3: OultonPark, Cheshire.

Jun 6: Thruxton, Hampshire.

Jun 20: Brands Hatch, Kent.

Jul 4: Knockhill, Fife, Scotland.

Jul 18: MalloryPark, Leicestershire.

July 25: Moto GP Support, DoningtonPark

Aug 15: Croft, North Yorkshire

Aug 30: CadwellPark, Lincolnshire.

Sep 12: OultonPark, Cheshire.

Sep 19: DoningtonPark, Leicestershire


More, from a press release issued by JR MOtorsport:

ROBINSON IN THE POINTS AGAIN AT OULTON

JR Motosport rider Jamie Robinson made it four points scoring rides in the last four races with another battling performance at the penultimate round of the British Supersport Championship which took place at Oulton Park in Cheshire yesterday.

Yorkshireman Robinson had to overcome the wet conditions during Friday’s testing and the changeable weather throughout the remainder of the weekend but following on from his recent good performances at Mallory, Croft and Cadwell, the Yamaha R6 rider was confident going into the 16 lap race.

Robinson got a great start but as has been typical of his luck this season, two riders fell in front of him on the opening lap forcing him to take evasive action which dropped him a number of places. The former 250cc British Champion battled back up the leaderboard when a similar incident involving Aussie Paul Young stopped him in his tracks again and meant he had to settle for another 13th place finish at the flag.

“That was so frustrating as every time I’d worked my way up to the pack in front of me, something happened meaning all the hard work I’d done was for nothing. I was riding OK but again we were losing out on the straights to the bikes with quicker acceleration. I really hope we can put all the bad luck behind us and go out with a bang at Donington next weekend” said the 28 year old from Holmfirth.

Meanwhile 17 year old team mate Paul Veazey left OultonPark disappointed following from his 21st place finish after again being the victim of an incident not of his making. The Middlesbrough teenager got a great start from row six of the grid but as they exited the first corner, one of the leading riders had a machine problem meaning Veazey had to slow to avoid a collision:

“OultonPark is a circuit I’ve always struggled at and it didn’t help when I had to shut off to avoid crashing on the opening lap. I tried to get my head down after that and in the end I just wanted to bring the bike home as there was no point in crashing. I hope we can get a good result at Donington next weekend as I really like that track and all I need is a little bit of luck” said Veazey who will be hoping for his first points of the season at the DoningtonPark finale.

Robinson echoed Veazey’s comments: “We had high hopes for Paul after his great ride at Cadwell but it wasn’t to be. He should go well at Donington and we can both round the season off in style.”