Michael Rutter took a winning double to move ahead in the chase for the Bennetts British Superbike crown in an incident packed third round at Mallory Park.

The HM Plant Honda grabbed the initiative after his previously unbeaten team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari crashed heavily out of the action on the sixth lap of the opening race, as he braked into the left-hander of the chicane.

Kiyonari, who had shattered the lap record to claim his second pole start, escaped serious injury, but now faces a race against time to be fit for the fourth round at Oulton Park on Holiday Monday – the 22 year old Japanese rider was heading the action just ahead of Rutter when disaster struck.

“I was pushing him hard, hoping he might make a mistake, but not for that to happen,” said Rutter who was told that his team-mate was conscious and sitting talking to staff in the circuit’s medical centre.

Rutter held off heavy pressure from Hawk Kawasaki rider Glen Richards to take the victory, and they were scrapping for supremacy in the afternoon’s second race that was run in three parts.

The first stoppage came as officials dealt with a heavy crash involving Tommy Hill and Danny Beaumont at Devil’s Elbow, and then they had to deal with oil sprayed onto the track from a blown engine.

Richards made Rutter work for his second victory, but the Honda rider who lives adjacent to the circuit held on: “I’ll be having a few drinks to celebrate tonight – I’ve never known so many stoppages but we still got some decent races in and I just had that little bit more speed than Glen.”

Rutter leads 119-100 over Kiyonari, with Gregorio Lavilla, confirmed as an Airwaves Ducati rider for the remainder of the season third, third on 88 points – the Spaniard recovering after a first race tumble with Karl Harris to grab third place next time out.

Danny Beaumont was the first race winner in the British Superbike Cup, finishing ahead of Steve Brogan, James Buckingham and Chris Martin, while in the second race Brogan took the honours, finishing ahead of Martin to open a 12 point lead in the series.

Defending British 125cc Champion Christian Elkin took a second successive victory to tighten his grip on the crown while Aussie Paul Young, whose team is based at the circuit took a popular win in the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship race.

Brendan Roberts became the third winner in as many races in the Virgin Mobile Cup, while Leon Camier, despite a heavy tumble during qualifying, hit back to beat Tom Sykes in the Metabo British Supersport Championship race.

HM Plant Honda Report

Michael Rutter took a devastating double victory at the third round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in front of his home fans at Mallory Park in Leicestershire. The HM Plant Honda Racing star took maximum points and the championship lead after his team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari was injured in an incident earlier in the day.

The first race was stopped after Kiyonari crashed on the approach to Edwina’s chicane. The 22-year-old Japanese star lost control under heavy braking, ran on to the grass and parted company with his HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade. After being temporarily knocked unconscious, Kiyo recovered in the circuit medical centre from concussion, but played no further part in the day’s proceedings.

Rutter led the first race from start to finish after the restart using the power and handling characteristics of his factory Fireblade to best effect. Third into the first turn, the 31-year-old Midlander swept into the lead on the entry to Edwina’s chicane before establishing a race-winning advantage. With the help of a new lap record (0:51.590) on lap three, the HM Plant Honda Racing star’s winning advantage over Glen Richards was more than six seconds at the chequered flag.

The second race was stopped and restarted twice with one consistent factor – Michael Rutter at the head of the Superbike field on the all-conquering factory HRC-prepared Fireblade. The final positions were decided at the third time of asking over 12 laps of the 1.39-oval circuit. Rutter made the early running with Glen Richards, before the Kirkby Mallory resident made good use of his local knowledge to pull away over the shortened race distance.

With six wins from six starts – HM Plant Honda Racing’s Ryuichi Kiyonari and Michael Rutter –have claimed four and two victories respectively in the 2005 British Superbike Championship. Rutter has taken the initiative from his team-mate at the top of the points table after Kiyo’s enforced absence at Mallory Park. Attention now shifts to Oulton Park in Cheshire where the drama will unfold once again on Bank Holiday Monday.

Michael Rutter: “I’m obviously a happy man tonight, but it’s such a shame that Kiyo had to miss out. I would rather be winning when he’s out there with me. There’s no doubt that the HM Plant Honda is going well at the moment. The input that we’ve had over the past two seasons from HRC and Michelin has been invaluable. We’re now seeing the fruits of our labour. It’s a special feeling for me at Mallory in particular to win in front of my family and friends.”

Ryuichi Kiyonari: “The crash was directly as a result of my mistake under braking. After my check-up in the medical centre, I feel OK except for a bit of a sore head and neck. If I’m fit to ride, I’ll be aiming to return to action at Oulton Park next weekend. I’m happy that Michael has done so well today for HM Plant Honda Racing, which makes up in some way for my disappointment.”

Harris Continues Good Form

John McGuinness Report

John McGuinness got his British Superbike Championship campaign back on track at a sun kissed Mallory Park, claiming points in each of the two races. The meeting was blighted by incidents and red flags but ‘Flint’ was able to avoid all of the trouble and, with two lightning starts, finished 11th and 12th to take 9 hard earned points from the meeting.

The week leading up to the event was troublesome, to say the least, with team manager Jim Moodie leaving the AIM Racing squad and it had an effect with John languishing in 24th place after the opening qualifying session, the R1 struggling around the 1.39mile circuit. Top end speed was the main problem, with the bike only 31st through the speed trap. However, the team regrouped and dug deep for the final qualifying session and John showed his usual grit and determination to haul himself up to 12th, although he was still a little concerned about the race set-up.

John got a tremendous start in the first race and was holding onto 7th, when the red flag came out due to a heavy crash involving championship leader Ryuichi Kiyonari. Another good getaway in the re-start saw him again in the top ten but a near crash at Devil’s Elbow lost him four places and it took a few laps to settle back into his rhythm. He eventually came home in 11th after being embroiled in a battle with Steve Brogan and Steve Plater, a battle that went in Brogan’s favour.

The second race was again heavily affected by crashes and stoppages, becoming a short 12-lap sprint for the somewhat depleted field. John perfected the start once more to make it into the top ten but a coming together with a charging Ben Wilson at the hairpin dropped him to 12th, a position he held until the chequered flag, adding another 4 points to his tally.

After completing the second race, John commented, “They were two really tough races today and I battled as hard as I possibly could from beginning to end. We struggled again in qualifying but I put in a couple of quick laps to get a decent grid position and I got away brilliantly in each race, running as high as 7th at one stage. I was struggling through Devil’s Elbow all weekend and I had a huge moment there on the 2nd lap, just managing to keep control but it was enough for the leaders to get a bit of a gap. Steve Plater had a big crash in front of me on the last lap allowing Steve Brogan to pull away just enough to deny me my first top ten of the year.”

“The second race was pretty much the same and I made a few little mistakes at places where it mattered losing the tow from the riders in front but I’m happy enough with the weekend overall. I was inside the lap record in qualifying and everyone was trying really hard this weekend, which may have been why a few of the boys crashed out. I’m pleased to have scored points in both races and am getting closer to the front so if we can find a little bit more speed from the bike, we’ll be even closer. The team worked really hard all weekend so it’s pleasing for them to have got two good results as well and puts us in good stead for Oulton Park, which is always a good circuit to ride.”

John and the team head to Oulton in just a few days, with round four of the series taking place at the Cheshire venue on May Bank Holiday, Monday May 2nd.

Rizla Suzuki Report

Rizla Suzuki racer Scott Smart scored his best result of the season so far with a fifth place finish in race one of the third round of the British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park in Leicestershire.

Scott enjoyed a close-fought battle for third in the opening race with Ducati's Leon Haslam and Yamaha's Sean Emmett. He went for glory on the last lap but just couldn't find a way past his rivals. In the second race, two red flags interrupted proceedings and the race was shortened to 12-laps. After a poor start Scott battled his way back to eighth by the chequered flag.

British Superbike Champion JR retired to the pits in the first race, finding the racing conditions at the circuit too arduous for his broken right leg. Rizla Suzuki elected to withdraw him from the second race of the day. Honda's Michael Rutter won both races.

You can catch the highlights of today's racing on Channel 4 next Sunday morning. Rizla Suzuki is competing again at Oulton Park in Cheshire at the fourth round of the British Superbike Championship on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2nd - a circuit where the team won four races out of four starts in 2004.

Scott: "I nearly took third and my first podium of the season in the first race. I had the pace on the two guys in front of me but I just couldn't force my way past them.

"We had three starts in the second race and every one of them was poor. Once I got going, I was running the same times as the leaders, so there's nothing wrong with my Rizla Suzuki - we just need to get off the line quicker and we'll be working specifically on that for Oulton Park next week."

JR: "In the opening race I was getting beaten up at every corner and my right leg was cramping badly. I made the call to retire to the pits because of the pain and an inability to ride in my normal aggressive style.

"I sat down with my crew after the race and we had a good heart-to-heart. We decided I should withdraw from the second race of the day as I honestly didn't think I could get in the points. I see my doctor on Tuesday and will have intensive physiotherapy after that.

Robert Wicks, Team Manager: "Well done to Scott for scoring his season best performance with a fifth place in the opening race. He was riding his Rizla Suzuki as hard as he could and was racing for the final podium position right until the last lap when he ran wide trying to make a pass stick. Today is another step forward in Scott's season and it's great to see him fighting at the front - we'll be after more of the same at Oulton Park.

"JR made a tough call today by coming in. It was obvious he was in a lot of pain with his right leg and couldn't continue under those circumstances. We will now let the dust settle and see how he responds to treatment through the course of next week."

Dean Thomas Report

"I've ended up having a really good day today and have left with my best results of the year so far with a 6th and 4th. I'm happy but just wish I'd managed to get onto the podium as that was my mission for the weekend and I came extremely close in the second race to doing that but Lavilla was on a mission and he was determined to get passed me.

"As far as racing was concerned it's been a very mixed day with the racing getting stopped and delayed for various reasons which caused huge disruptions. I didn't get a great start in the first race but managed to stay away from what was happening in front of me between Harris and Lavilla. It wasn't long before the two of them were in the gravel trap after they had a massive coming together which let me take fourth place. Then on lap 5, race leader Kiyonari had a big off going into Edwina's knocking himself out and causing the race to be stopped, I was 6th on the grid for the re-start and ended up 5th into the first corner. I was being hounded by Emmett who got the better of me and I had a mammoth moment on the exit to Gerrards which nearly sent me into orbit but I somehow managed to save it. I settled for 6th but for 10 laps of the second restart I had terrible arm pump which just caused me an absolute nightmare.

"I got a great start in the second race and was up to third by the first corner behind Rutter and Richards. The safety car was out by lap four as Dennis Hobbs had tipped off at the Hairpin and was lying in the middle of the track. Lavilla passed me before the safety car had pulled in and we had crossed the line which in the rules isn't allowed, he soon realised his mistake and let me back passed him but by that point Rutter and Richards had a healthy advantage in front of me. By lap 7 the race was red flagged when Tommy Hill and Danny Beaumont had an enormous crash at Devil's elbow. Again I was third on the restart and was having another battle with Lavilla, Pensavalle's engine blew going down the start finish straight which I didn't know about and it nearly threw me off on my next lap round. Once again the race was stopped and they had to paste the start finish straight with cement dust. Restart three and I was up to third again and stuck in another battle with the Spaniard and he was harassing me constantly and finally managed to get the better of me on the penultimate lap into Edwina's. Still a fourth place and some good healthy points in the bag which I can't complain about, roll on Oulton Park."

Dave Johnson Report

21-year-old Dave Johnson scored an encouraging fifth place at the third round of the Metzeler Superstock Championships at Mallory Park. The South Australian is based in Hinckley only a stone's throw from Mallory was very content with his results.

It was a mixed day with various crashes in other races being red flagged and delayed which put the Superstock race back by nearly an hour. The excitement did not end there when there was a huge pile up in the 1st lap of the Superstock race at Edwina's Chicane which once again brought out the red flag and delayed Johnson's race.

However, once the now reduced distance race got underway Johnson was on a mission to run with the front runners and was soon dicing it with the leading bunch. A few tyre problems caused Johnson to lose grip and slip back down the field but never the less he brought his Suzuki home in a very comfortable 5th position.

Speaking with Dave he said 'I was struggling with my tyres early on and I was great into the corners but found it tough to get out of them without the rear tyre spinning up. I'm really pleased with the result though and it's given me some good strong points in the overall Championship standing. We still have ten more races to go and I'm feeling much happier and more confident as the meetings go on. Ideally I would like to get myself on the podium and that is the target that I have set myself. I know I'm capable and the team are working so hard to get me there so fingers crossed it won't be long before I'm standing on the rostrum.'

Team Manager Nigel Broomhall was delighted with the result saying 'I'm really pleased with the progress we have made since the start of the season. Everything is falling into place quite nicely and Dave is getting consistent results which is great. Our next round is the team's local track at Oulton Park on Bank Holiday Monday (2nd May), being based in Stoke-on-Trent we should have a fair bit of support there.'

The Drayton Cross/Xpress Racing rider was the top Suzuki rider in the Superstock class and only 0.9 separated 4th position to 6th he is now lying joint 8th in the overall Championship standings. Johnson is looking forward to the fourth round at Oulton Park, Cheshire on the 2nd May.

Notes on other Aussies

A huge weekend for the Australians at Mallory Park with Glen Richards taking two podiums in the premier Superbike category, Paul Young winning the 1,000cc Superstock race and Brendan Roberts taking out the Yamaha R6 Cup Race with fellow South Australian Billy McConnell also making the podium.  Matt Kuhne scored a top ten result in a huge 125 Grand Prix field.

Matt Kuhne Report

Team UK / Hammercrete Racing rider Matt Kuhne has just completed round 3 of the British 125 GP championship at Mallory Park on the weekend. The circuit has one of England's fastest turns as well as a hairpin which is also one of the slowest corners of all the circuits.

Matt on day 1 of practice was going well when he got a puncture on the front tyre and causing him to crash in the hairpin.

Matt found it difficult to get a good setup for the circuit with the track having two dog leg corners and the hairpin you needed the bike to turn in quick but this was causing the bike to be unstable on the 200 km fast sweeping bend. Matt qualified 24th on the grid for Sunday's race.

On Sunday morning the team had made some last minute changes to the bike to try in the morning warm up, this was a positive as Matt was 13th fastest in the warm up.

Matt had a reasonable start in the race but in lap 2 the safety car was out after a crash and remained out for several laps. The rider in front of Matt was dropping back and lost several seconds whilst the car was out . Matt was trying to get him to keep up with the group whilst the safety car was out but he kept loosing ground on the pack. Once the safety car had left Matt got passed the rider and had a 4 second gap to the next group which he continued to pursue them. He caught them and passed several more riders and ended up finishing tenth in the race.

Matt is now 1 of only 5 riders to score points at every round and is also running 5th in the ACU Academy cup, Matt is also equal 12th in the British 125 GP championship.

Matt's next race is this weekend at Oulton at round 4 of the championship then the week after is off to Spain for round 1 of the Spanish 125 GP championship.