Rutter wins home race one!

Michael Rutter won the first race at the third round of the Bennetts British Superbike championship at Mallory Park.

The race was run under the safety car after only the second lap following a big accident caused by Airwaves Ducati's Gregorio Lavilla and Honda Racing UK's Karl Harris when they came together and went off going into the high-speed first corner. Ryucihi Kiyonari was leading Rutter when the car came out.

When the race got underway Kiyonari had the hole shot but going into the second corner he lost control of his Honda machine unfortunately hitting the tyre barrier as he slid to a halt. He was knocked out for a couple of minutes but was sitting up and talking in the medical centre a short time after. He, along with Harris who are both suffering from concussion will not be riding in the second race.

From the start of the second part of the race, which is separate to the first part of the race under the new BSB rules, Rutter led from the start, stretching out an final 6 second lead over Hawk Kawasaki's Glen Richards in a safe second.

A battle for third raged throughout the restart between Hawks Dean Thomas, Ducati's Leon Haslam, Virgin Yamaha's Sean Emmett and Rizla Suzuki's Scott Smart.

Thomas had the position after the Superbike bunch had got round a very well placed Vivaldi Kawasaki rider Tristan Palmer who subsequently slipped back to 13th.
Thomas then come under pressure from Emmett who forced his way through on the entrance into the high-speed long first corner on the start of the 12th lap, causing Thomas to run wide.

On the next lap, Thomas lost the rear of the Kawasaki going into the same corner as he got back onto the gas at the apex almost high-siding him from the machine letting Smart through to fifth.

Emmett then went on to challenge Haslam but didn't manage to take the position by the flag. In the later stages Emmett then came under pressure from Smart but a mistake on the last lap meant he had to settle for fifth.

Michael Laverty was the highest placed Stobart rider in seventh with his team-mate Gary Mason in eighth. Jeremy McWilliams retired from the first race early on complaining of lack of grip from a poor tyre choice.

Virgin Yamaha rider Tommy Hill unfortunately had to retire due to a stretched chain on the sixth lap of the restart, he was evidently unhappy from not being able to continue as he was in a strong third at the time.

Top ten
1. Rutter
2. Richards
3. Haslam
4. Emmett
5. Smart
6. Thomas
7. M Laverty
8. Mason
9. Beaumont (Cup)
10. Brogan (Cup)