British Superbike - Oulton Park

Superbike - Team Renegade Ducati

Team Renegade Ducati's Michael Rutter will start tomorrow's 18-lap British Superbike races from the front row of the grid, after qualifying third fastest during this afternoon's Dunlop Super 12 Shootout at Oulton Park.

Rutter timed his final flying lap to perfection, crossing the line as the chequered flag was being readied and then going on to set a time of 1:37.398; fast enough to bump him up from fifth place to third and demote reigning champion, Steve Hislop, to the second row of the grid.

"That was probably the hardest lap I've ever done," said Rutter. "It felt like I was about to crash at every turn, but I knew I had to keep pushing hard if I was to regain the front row. Shakey was fast in qualifying, but we know that we've got a good race set-up, so if I can get a good start tomorrow then hopefully I'll be able to give him a run for his money."

Also starting from third place on the grid is Team Renegade Ducati Supersport rider, Leon Haslam. After suffering with machinery problems during wet practice yesterday, the 19-year-old former Grand Prix rider bounced back during today's second qualifying session to secure a front row start for tomorrow's 16-lap race.

"The weather and the bike conspired against us yesterday, but we managed to turn things around during qualifying today," commented Haslam. "We've had a few problems with suspension set-up, but we know what we need to change to improve things and I'm relatively happy with third place on the grid. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's race, regardless of whether it's wet or dry."

Sean Emmett faces a fight through the field in tomorrow's two Superbike races, after qualifying down in 11th place during this afternoon's Dunlop Super 12 shootout. A problem with his factory 998F02 during the morning qualifying session necessitated an engine change during the interval, forcing Emmett to both run the new motor in and work on finding a set-up during this afternoon's regular qualifying and Dunlop Super 12 sessions.

"It's been another difficult day for us," said Emmett. "The problem we had this morning left us playing catch up all day, to the point where we were still working on set-up in the 15 minute Super 12 session. We'll make some more changes to the bike overnight to improve the set-up, which we'll try in morning warm-up, but I think it's fair to say that a good start will be critical if I'm to run with the leading group tomorrow."

Also facing a fight through the field tomorrow is 22-year-old Nick Medd, who qualified 18th fastest during regular qualifying, after getting baulked by traffic on his final two flying laps.

"It's disappointing to knock over a second off your best time and still end up on the fifth row of the grid," said Medd. "But on the positive side, I'm gaining in confidence every time I ride the bike and I'm also starting to get a feel for just how hard you can push a rear qualifying tyre. The aim for tomorrow is try and be as consistent as possible and to further increase my confidence in the bike."

Superbike - Rizla Suzuki

Rizla Suzuki's John Reynolds proved he is back to top form by taking second place in final qualifying for tomorrow's fourth round of the British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park.

JR, who has been riding around the pain of a broken collarbone at the previous two rounds, reckons he is able to race for the first time this season rather than just circulate nursing an injury. He is back to his aggressive riding best and determined to fight for the podium tomorrow.

Rizla Suzuki rider Yukio Kagayama, who has just returned from a trip to his home in Japan, finished sixth and on the second row. He was bitterly disappointed not to be on the front row but is confident he can run at the front in tomorrow's racing.

John Reynolds: "It's great to get back racing. I honestly feel that this is the first event where I will be racing and not just riding with an injury. I am able to be more physical with the bike and push it more than the previous rounds. This is where we should be and tomorrow it's all about racing for the podium and the win.

"Today we worked on geometry and stability on the bike and have found a great package. The bike is good and now it is down to me. The strength is back in my collarbone and I am ready to start my 2003 title challenge now."

Yukio Kagayama: "I am not happy with sixth, no way, I could have been much higher. On the last lap I made a big mistake and ran wide at the last corner. But I am still happy, the bike is feeling very good. The chassis is excellent and the engine very strong.

"We have not changed the bike very much today, it is good. We found a tyre for race distance and the clutch is working just the way I want it. Oulton Park is giving me no problems, but it is a very English track with lots of ups and downs and difficult turns. I really enjoy racing here."

Niall Mackenzie, team test and development rider: "This is like the start of the season for the team and in particular JR. He's ridden at earlier rounds but was never able to race because of his collarbone. Now he can race again and he's getting angry on track. I've always felt he rides at his best when angry. He also says there isn't a single thing he'd change on his bike and that bodes well for the racing.

"After a turbulent start to the season Yuki is sort of starting afresh as well. He's just returned from Japan and there's a hunger about him to race. At the end of the Dunlop Super 12 qualifying I think he proved he's taken a step forward and is now able to ride the bike hard rather than just ride it fast. He was unlucky not to get on the front row because of a big slide into the last corner, but he'll be there or thereabouts in tomorrow's races. Today has been a big boost for both riders and the team."

Superbike Qualifying times:
1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 1:36.503
2: John Reynolds (Suzuki) +0.379
3: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +0.895
4: Dean Ellison (Ducati) +0.977
5: Steve Hislop (Yamaha) +1.204
6: Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) +1.421
7: Gary Mason (Yamaha) +1.469
8: John Crawford (Ducati) +1.681
9: Steve Plater (Honda) +1.906
10: Mark Heckles (Honda) +2.384

Supersport - Honda

Karl Harris put his Honda Racing CBR600RR on pole position for round four of the British Supersport Championship at Oulton Park. After a rain-soaked first qualifying session yesterday, Harris took advantage of today’s dry conditions to set the early pace around the Cheshire circuit and in fact was unbeaten throughout the 25-minute second qualifying session.

His time of 1:41.189 was almost half a second faster than his nearest challenger, making it yet another front row start for the Sheffield rider, who leads this year’s championship by 24 points after just three rounds.

Karl Harris: “It’s great to be on pole position again. We tested here just over a week ago, which worked well as we had plenty of dry track time. This has played into our hands here at Oulton Park because yesterday’s session was wet so I’m pleased with today’s outcome. The team has done some engine work since the last round at Thruxton and we’re using an engine developed for more torque, which works well around this circuit. I’m hoping for a great start in tomorrow’s 16-lap race and aim to circulate in the low 1:41s. My confidence is high and I can’t wait to get the race underway.”

Supersport - Triumph ValMoto

Qualifying at Oulton Park proved to be something of a mixed bag for the Triumph ValMoto British Supersport team. Saturday’s initial timed session started off well with Jim Moodie and Craig Jones lapping consistently within the top five. However despite the best efforts of the team, time once more became a factor and by the end of Sunday’s second session the pair had slipped down the order. Northwich resident Jones qualified in 15th place at his local circuit while his Scottish team-mate had to settle for 19th on the grid as they each continued their quest for a good base setting.

The rain which fell just before the start of first qualifying served to level the playing field. Both Triumph ValMoto riders found that the set-up problems that have so far hindered the team’s progress became less of an issue. In the wet, Jones and Moodie looked likely candidates for front row starts, however a rapidly drying track prompted a switch back to less than ideal dry settings.

“It’s very frustrating,” admitted Moodie. “We just seem to run out of time whenever we get close to a good set-up. Some of the other teams are able to put on a few clicks here and there and away they go but we’re still experimenting in the dying stages of qualifying which doesn’t leave us with any time to put in the fast laps. I know that there’s at least a second a lap more in the Triumph ValMoto Daytona 600 around here but we just didn’t have time to find it today.”

Jones was also disappointed with his grid position but conceded that he is feeling increasingly more comfortable on the bike and is hopeful that he can redress the balance in tomorrow’s race.

“I’ve learned a lot about how to ride the Triumph ValMoto Daytona 600 at Oulton Park,” he said. “I’ve been carrying too much speed into some corners and braking too early into others. I had a big slide on what was shaping up to be my fastest lap that probably cost me half a second and with it a place on the third row. At the end of the day, consistency is what gets results and I feel like I can match the leaders for pace in the race. I’m feeling confident despite qualifying not going to plan, and I’m going to go for it tomorrow, so we’ll see what happens then.”

Final qualifying: 1. K. Harris (Honda) 1:41.189; 2. D. Thomas (Honda) +0.452; 3. L. Haslam (Ducati) +0.871; 4. S. Andrews (Yamaha) +1.073; 5. M. Laverty (Honda) +1.176; 6. T. Sykes (Yamaha) +1.445; 7. J. Robinson (Yamaha) +1.498; 8. A. Coates (Honda) +1.649; 9. K. Murphy (Kawasaki) +1.684; 10. R. Frost (Kawasaki) +1.882