| Yukio
Kagayama and John Reynolds (RIZLA SUZUKI riders) demonstrated
yesterday the dominance once a bastion of the V twin
Ducati. This by achieving double victories and double
runner-up results in the fourth round of the British
Superbike Championship at Oulton Park.
Prior to the race both riders were interviewed on the
starting grid, JR spoke with confidence approaching
the two races, as one would expect leading the championship
and YK, whose command of English is improving, merely
exchanged basic pleasantries. Sometimes less is more.
On the warm up lap prior to the first race a spectacular
collision occurred by one of the privateers whose bike
fire-balled in to lodge corner. This delayed the race:
the race commentators filled in as best they could but
in the end it was like listening to a has been footballer
filling in for two hours after a boring nil-nil football
match on Sky TV.
Thankfully the race was started minus a few scorched
racers. YK looked composed following JR throughout the
race and picked his spot to pass JR and take the win.
Then in the second race Yukisan made a break for the
line with four laps to go, barely holding off JR at
the chequered flag. Both wins by YK were welcomed by
rapturous applause from the Cheshire crowd.
It means that JR has extended his
Championship lead over Honda’s Michael Rutter
to 18-points while Yuki is looking ominous in third
place and chasing hard. Rizla Suzuki has now won six
of the first eight races of the 2004 season, with each
rider sharing three wins a-piece.
Yukio Kagayama:
“Today is good result, I am so happy. First race
I follow John-san and study his riding. On last lap
I know where to overtake and win race.”
“In second race I pass John-san
with some laps to go. I try to break away and make many
mistakes. I give too much gas and my body is tired,
but I try my all and am so happy to win. After race
I am maximum tired, so much that I cannot stand up by
myself. But good news is that now I return to Japan
for small holiday with my family and will come home
to Britain stronger. I can win - I have number one team.
I have learnt new English words – piece of cake!”
John Reynolds:
“From a team perspective it has been a fantastic
day. On a personal level, I have been out-ridden and
it isn’t often that happens.”
“In the first race Yuki snatched
the win from me at the end, but in the second race he
beat me fair and square. Yuki is proving he is going
to be a big rival for me in 2004, he is a world-class
rider and it is a privilege to be racing against him.
It’s great that Rizla Suzuki is dominating, but
maybe I’m respecting Yuki a bit too much; next
time, I plan to be the one with the double win.”
My day was rounded off by a lengthy wait with my 9-year-old
son in the pits for his newfound heroes. A few signatures
later and a brimming smile was fixed to his face for
the duration of our journey home. He wasn’t the
only one smiling. Yukio Kagayama will shortly return
to Japan for a further operation in his road to full
recovery, we wish him well.
At this early stage in the campaign
John Reynolds and Michael Rutter are ahead of Yukiosan
in the championship, however on this form seeing the
rear of Yukiosans machine could be a familiar sight
for them both!
A note from the site editor:
This is intended primarily as a girls site so I'll try
to get male contibutors to seek their feminine side
and swoon suitably when faced with the more, erm, physically
blessed racer boys. For the time being a dishy contributor
will have to do! I might even try to get poses in boxer
shorts, or is that pushing it?
Results:
Round 4, Oulton Park 3rd May 2004
Race One
1 Yukio Kagayama Suzuki - Rizla Suzuki 26:14.357
2 John Reynolds Suzuki - Rizla Suzuki 26:14.479
3 Michael Rutter Honda - HM Plant Honda Racing 26:33.878
4 Dean Thomas Ducati - Sendo Ducati Dienza 26:35.513
5 Scott Smart Kawasaki - Hawk Kawasaki 26:43.538
6 Glen Richards Kawasaki - Hawk Kawasaki 26:44.015
7 Gary Mason Yamaha - Virgin Mobile Samsung 26:44.388
8 Sean Emmett Ducati - Monstermob Ducati 26:49.255
9 Tommy Hill Yamaha - Virgin Mobile Samsung 25:07.725
10 James Ellison Yamaha - Jentin Racing 25:10.410
Race Two
1 Yukio KAGAYAMA Suzuki - Rizla Suzuki
29:27.256
2 John REYNOLDS Suzuki - Rizla Suzuki 29:27.380
3 Michael RUTTER Honda - HM Plant Honda Racing 29:40.827
4 Dean THOMAS Ducati - Sendo Ducati Dienza 29:42.176
5 Scott SMART Kawasaki - Hawk Kawasaki 29:49.324
6 Leon HASLAM Ducati - Team Renegade Ducati 29:50.444
7 Gary MASON Yamaha - Virgin Mobile Samsung 29:50.622
8 James ELLISON Yamaha - Jentin Racing 29:52.980
9 Glen RICHARDS Kawasaki - Hawk Kawasaki 29:56.471
10 Noriyuki HAGA Ducati - Team Renegade Ducati 30:01.257
Championship Standings:
John REYNOLDS (Suzuki) 147
Michael RUTTER (Honda) 133
Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki) 103
Sean EMMETT (Ducati) 86
Scott SMART (Kawasaki) 79
Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda)76
Dean THOMAS (Ducati) 61
Tommy HILL (Yamaha) 47
Glen RICHARDS (Kawasaki)43
Gary MASON (Yamaha) 40
Steve PLATER (Yamaha) 27
Craig COXHELL (Honda) 25
Kieran CLARKE (Yamaha) 23
Stuart EASTON (Ducati) 15
James HAYDON (Ducati) 9
Dean ELLISON (Ducati) 4
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