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Quote of the day - "A rittle bit pain" - Kagayama's
comment in the interview after race 1.
Race 1:
The number of laps for both races was reduced to 25 (just
over 30 miles) due to the shabby weather conditions ans foecast.
The tyre lottery of a wet first race made the field disparate
to say the least. Sean Emmet and Tommy Hill (R6 cup winner
2003) had a coming together early in the race, resulting in
a retirement for the Monster Mob team. Michael Rutter was
actually being shown the blue flag being lapped near the end
of the race!
From the start James Haydon took the lead, but but soon gave
way to Gary Mason, Scott Smart and John McGuiness. Following
a bit of bad luck from McGuiness and Mason he managed not
only his, but the Virgin Mobile Yahama team's, best result
result of the season so far (Steve Plater watch out!).
We had three different manufacturers on the podium, with Ducati
not getting a look in. Scott Smart showed flashes of family
brilliance (he is Barry Sheene's nephew) and took the win
ahead of James Haydon and Yukio Kagayama. John Reynolds took
fourth. 3rd and 4th places to men who in the normal world
would be eating grapes in hospital!
Smart used his Mondello settings to good effect yet again
and stated after the race that perhaps he should use them
all the time because they are his "lucky settings".
It's interesting to note that there are no factory Scottish
boys to make the most of the local track and support.
A quote fron Neil Tuxworth - "there will be no factory
Honda team in the British Supersports in 2005.
The heavens opened after the Supersports had formed on the
grid, making the track disappear under a solid sheet of water.
Remiscent of Philip Island WSB 2001 when the 2nd superbike
race was abandoned due the the huge expanses of standing water
on the track. In fact the Supersport bike was eventually abandoned
in favour of the second Superbike race when the track eventually
became rideable.
Race 2:
James Haydon got the lead past Reynolds and Kagayama at the
end of lap one. Gary Mason took a dive on lap 3 causing the
safety car to come out for a couple of laps before battle
recommenced. Sean Emmit got inbetween Kagayama and Reynolds
before the safety car. Rutter was back on the pace notablty
after a poor first race performance. Tommy Hill and Gary Mason
both binned out on this race.
With 5 laps to go Kagayama was dropping off the back making
it a four horse race between Haydon, Reynolds, Rutter and
Emmet. Four laps to go, after Emmet took Rutter, a back marker
frenzy baulked Reynolds and allowed Emmet to snatch second.
Did he"overbite" more than he can chew? No! James
Haydon took his first win in British Superbikes for at least
3 years.
Race One Results
1 Scott Smart
2 James Haydon
3 Yukio Kagayama
4 John Reynolds
5 Jon Kirkham
6 Gary Mason
7 James Ellison
8 Iain McPherson
9 Michael Rutter
10 Ryuichi Kiyonari
Race Two Results
1 James Haydon
2 Sean Emmet
3 John Reynolds
4 Michael Rutter
5 Yukio Kagayama
6 Sc ott Smart
7 John McGuiness
8 Craig Coxhell
9 Dean Thomas
10 James Ellison
Championship Standings:
1 John REYNOLDS (Suzuki) 290
2 Michael RUTTER (Honda) 252
3 Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki) 208
4 Sean EMMETT (Ducati) 206
5 Scott SMART (Kawasaki) 199
6 Dean THOMAS (Ducati) 108
7 Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda) 95
8 Tommy HILL (Yamaha) 88
9 James HAYDON (Ducati) 87
10 Glen RICHARDS (Kawasaki) 78
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