Paul Bird Motorsport is pleased to announce that double British Superbike Championship runner up Michael Rutter will ride for the Stobart Motorsport team in the 2006 British Superbike Championship (BSB). Rutter, who has both 500cc Grand Prix and World Superbike Championship points under his belt in addition to many years’ BSB experience, will join existing teamster Michael Laverty in a two man team for the former double BSB champions, whereby Rutter will also contest the 2006 International North West 200 and the 2006 Macau Grand Prix for the team. “I’m very pleased to be joining the Stobart Motorsport team as they made it very clear that they really wanted me from the start” said Rutter. “I was in the fortunate position of having a number of lucrative offers for 2006 but I have chosen to go with Birdy as I think that’s where I have the best chance of winning. The team is well up for it and so am I and I can’t wait to start testing” said the 32 year old eleven times North West 200 winner, one time TT winner and five times Macau GP winner. Both Rutter and Laverty will ride Honda Fireblades for The Mob, Vent-Axia and VK Vodka Kick backed team and team owner Paul Bird is delighted to have secured the services of a rider he has admired for many seasons: “This is fantastic news for us as we’ve tried many times before to sign Michael and for various reasons, it has never happened. We’ve never looked forward to working with anyone so much before and we know Michael will do a good job for us. These are exciting times for Stobart Motorsport and signing Michael is the icing on the cake” declared the Cumbrian businessman who last month celebrated winning the National Rally Championship himself to round off a clean sweep of British Championships for the Stobart Rally Team. Rutter started racing in 1989 aboard an RGV 250 Suzuki before progressing to British Championship level in the 1991 Superteen series. Barring one year (1999) whereby he contested a full season of 500cc GP’s, Rutter has been ever-present in the British Superbike Championship, racking up 25 wins and 65 podium finishes, as well as 16 pole positions from his 229 BSB starts. Michael Rutter Biography Full Name: Michael Rutter Status: Partner, Sandrine, two daughters Date of Birth: 11/04/1973 Place of Birth: Wordsley, West Midlands Residence: Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire Hobbies: Skiing, Football, Mountain Biking Dream: To win BSB and keep racing First Race: 1989 Snetterton First BSB Race 1992 Donington Park Career Highlights (short circuits): 1991 3rd Superteen Championship 1992 11th 750cc British Championship (Moto Cinelli Ducati) 1993 8th TT Superbike Championship (Medd Kawasaki) 1994 5th TT Superbike Championship (McCulloch Ducati) 1995 5th TT Superbike Championship (McCulloch Ducati) 1996 4th British Superbike Championship (McCulloch Ducati) 1997 3rd British Superbike Championship (V & M Honda) 1998 6th British Superbike Championship (Honda Britain) 1999 27th 500cc World Championship (Miller Honda) 2000 9th British Superbike Championship (Level 3 Yamaha) 2001 6th British Superbike Championship (Kawasaki UK) 2002 2nd British Superbike Championship (Renegade Ducati) 2003 3rd British Superbike Championship (Renegade Ducati) 2004 2nd British Superbike Championship (HM Plant Honda) 2005 3rd British Superbike Championship (HM Plant Honda)