VALUABLE START FOR RIZLA SUZUKI Rizla Suzuki racers James Haydon and Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne scored valuable points in both races at the opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch Indy circuit. In the first dry race, Byrne battled to sixth while Haydon recovered from a poor start to claim 10th. The race was cut short after 20-laps when Ducati rider Leon Haslam suffered a spectacular crash going into Paddock Hill bend. He was unhurt and his Ducati team mate Gregorio Lavilla won the race. The second race started in damp conditions and the weather played havoc with tyre choice for all teams. Both Rizla Suzuki racers started with intermediate front and slick rear tyres anticipating the weather to improve but the rain continued to fall throughout the 30-lap race. Both riders showed immense control and maturity with Haydon coming home in seventh and Shakey in 11th as Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari won the race. Defending Champion Lavilla heads the Championship table and the Rizla Suzuki racers are equal seventh. Rizla Suzuki races at Donington Park in Derbyshire at the second round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on April 9th. James Haydon: “In the opening race on the second lap I went into the left hander at Surtees too fast when my tyre wasn’t up to full temperature and ended up grass tracking. I lost six or seven places and then spent the rest of the race fighting back. I got to 10th before the race was cut short and I’m frustrated because I think I could have got another couple of positions if it had gone full distance. “Race two was hideous because of the damp conditions. Like most of the rest of the field, I picked the wrong tyres and ended up riding a restrained and controlled race to score points in seventh. My confidence is building and I’m keen to get back on the bike as soon as possible.” Shane Byrne: “The first race was very positive and gives us an indication of where we are in relation to the rest of the field. The second race was hard because of the conditions and I also got a terrible start. “I learnt a lot by following other riders and I am comfortable on the Rizla Suzuki, so today has been good from that perspective. I am now desperate to test before we go to Donington so I can find out more about my bike and what changes we need to make to go faster. I need and want to be challenging at the front to win races.” Robert Wicks -Team Manager: “The weather conditions were difficult and we are pleased we are leaving here with some solid points in the bag for both riders. James and Shakey both rode with controlled aggression and have given excellent feedback to their crews which will improve the bikes for the next round. “This weekend has proved we have a very fast motorcycle that has lots of potential and two riders champing at the bit to win races. We will now do everything we can to unlock that potential.” Race One Result: 1: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 15:28.510, 2: Karl Harris (Honda) +4.222, 3: Michael Rutter (Honda) +8.758, 4: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +8.891, 5: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +12.363, 6: Shane Byrne (Rizla Suzuki) +18.556, 7: Michael Laverty (Honda) +18.793, 8: Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) +19.171, 9: Glen Richards (Honda) +19.285, 10: James Haydon (Rizla Suzuki) +20.402. Race Two Result: 1: Kiyonari 25:39.805, 2: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +10.069, 3: Lavilla +19.240, 4: Craig Coxhell (Kawasaki) +21.922, 5: Harris +23.918, 6: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +25.842, 7: James Haydon (Rizla Suzuki) +48.840, 8: Thomas +53.371, 9: Richards +1 lap, 10: Ollie Bridewell (Suzuki) +1 lap, 11: Shane Byrne (Rizla Suzuki) +1 lap. Championship Positions (after 1 round): 1: Lavilla 41, 2: Kiyonari 38, 3: Harris 31, 4: Haslam 20, 5=: Rutter, Thomas 16, 7 = Shane Byrne (Rizla Suzuki) and James Haydon (Rizla Suzuki) 15, 9: Richards 14, 10: Coxhell 13. More, from a press release issued by Stobart Motorsport: DEBUT ROSTRUM FOR RUTTER Stobart Motorsport rider Michael Rutter got the 2006 Bennetts British Superbike Championship off to a great start by recording a third place finish in today’s opening round of the series with a gritty performance in difficult conditions at Brands Hatch in Kent. Riding the VK Vodka Kick and Vent Axia backed Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Rutter get a blinding start to run with the leaders in the opening laps before falling back into the clutches of the pursuing pack. However, the 31 year old from Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire dug in and fought off the close attentions of former works Honda team mate Ryuichi Kiyonari to hold onto the final rostrum placing as out came the red flags following an accident involving Leon Haslam. As a result, Rutter claimed his first podium for both the Paul Bird Motorsport team and himself since Snetterton last July, but was unable to repeat his heroics in race two when a technical problem forced him out in the early stages. “I was well happy with race one” said a delighted Rutter. “Third place on my first run out was great, everything went well so hopefully we can try and repeat it at Donington. In race two I just couldn’t get the power down safely so I thought the most sensible option was to pull in so I could stay in one piece for Donington.” Team mate Michael Laverty also endured mixed fortunes in the corresponding races and following a battling seventh place finish in race one, ended up sliding off in the wet conditions late on in race two. “The first race wasn’t so bad, I thought Shakey Byrne was holding me up a bit and if I could have got past him I could have run with Jonathan Rea. The second race I just plugged away. I was going to go for a wet rear but I didn’t. I managed to get up to eleventh and I made a mistake and ended up crashing, although it was just a small crash, I ended up losing some points” said the 24 year old Ulsterman from Toomebridge. Team owner Paul Bird had mixed feelings following the season opener: “A great result in race one and instantly forgettable race two just about sums up the afternoon” said the Penrith businessman. “Michael (Rutter) did us proud and battled away in race one and then he had a problem in race two which if it happened today would have happened next time out. I was pleased for Michael (Laverty) in race one but like him, I was a little disappointed he crashed when another points scoring finish was on the cards. But we’re better placed to challenge next time out and I’m glad to get this round out of the way.” Superbike Race One Result 1, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 15m28.510s, 2, Karl Harris (Honda) +4.222s, 3, Michael Rutter (Stobart Honda) +8.758s, 4, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +8.891s, 5, Jonathan Rea (Red Bull Honda) +12.363s, 6, Shane Byrne (Suzuki) +18.556s, 7, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) +18.793s, 8, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) +19.171s, 9, Glen Richards (Honda) +19.285s, 10, James Haydon (Suzuki) +20.402s. Superbike Race Two Result 1, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 25m39.805s, 2, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +19.069s, 3, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +19.240s, 4, Craig Coxhell (Kawasaki) +21.922s, 5, Karl Harris (Honda) +23.918s, 6, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +25.842s, 7, James Haydon (Suzuki) +48.840s, 8, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) +53.371s, 9, Glen Richards (Honda) +1lap, 10, Ollie Bridewell (Suzuki) +1lap. Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings (after round 1) 1, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 41pts 2, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 38pts 3, Karl Harris (Honda) 31pts 4, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 20pts 5, Michael Rutter (Stobart Honda) 16pts 5, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) 16pts 7, Shane Byrne (Suzuki) 15pts 7, James Haydon (Suzuki) 15pts 9, Glen Richards (Honda) 14pts 10, Craig Coxhell (Kawasaki) 13pts 13, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) 9pts 2006 Bennetts British Superbike Race Dates R1: 2426 March, Brands Hatch, Kent (Indy) www.motorsportvision.co.uk R2: 79 April, Donington Park, Leics www.donington-park.co.uk R3: 1417 April, Thruxton, Hants www.barc.net R4: 29 April1 May, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk R5: 1921 May, Mondello Park, Co Kildare www.mondellopark.ie R6: 24 June, Mallory Park, Leics www.mallorypark.co.uk R7: 16-18 June, Snetterton, Norfolk www.motorsportvision.co.uk R8: 1416 July, Knockhill, Fife www.knockhill.co.uk R9: 21-23 July, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk R10:11-13 August, Croft, N Yorks www.croftcircuit.co.uk R11: 26-28 August, Cadwell Park, Lincs www.motorsportvision.co.uk R12: 15-17 September, Silverstone, Northants www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk R13: 29 September 1 October, Brands Hatch, Kent (GP) www.motorsportvision.co.uk