BSB KNOCKHILL ROUND 8 04/07/04

It was rain, rain and more rain at Knockhill.  Saturday afternoon qualifying was cancelled due to water lying on the track, which left John Reynolds (Suzuki) on pole with Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki), Michael Rutter (Honda) and James Haydon (Yamaha) also on the front row of the grid.

RACE 1

With heavy showers the order of the day it was a lottery for tyre choice.  Scott Smart (Kawasaki) and John McGuinness (Kawasaki) seemed to have made the right choice as they led the race almost locked together, until McGuiness slid off coming out of the hairpin.  Smart went on to win by a massive 18 secs from a revitalised James Haydon, with Kagayama in 3rd.  Tommy Hill (Yamaha) crashed on the first lap at the hairpin and unfortunately also brought off Sean Emmett (Ducati).  Dean Thomas (Ducati) and Sam Corke (Suzuki) also crashed out at the hairpin.  Meanwhile John Reynolds and Michael Rutter had made bad starts, with Rutter in last place, both managed to work their way through the field, with Reynolds finishing 4th and Rutter 9th, 1 lap in arrears.  Jon Kirkham (Suzuki) won the privateers battle from James Ellison (Yamaha) and Chris Platt (Kawasaki).

RACE 2

Haydon was the star of race 2, after a time away from racing he was back in good form, and a changed man.  He made good use of his front row start to take the lead on lap2 and stay out in front to the end for a well deserved win.  This time Reynolds and Rutter made better starts to finish 3rd and 4th.  Emmett came through to make a race of it with Haydon and finish a good second.  James Ellison won the privateers race from Kirkham and Corke.  Gary Mason (Yamaha) and Steve Brogan (Yamaha) crashed out at the hairpin, which was more like "calamity corner".

SUPERSPORT

Michael Laverty (Ducati) was on pole with Kieran Murphy (Honda), Paul Young (Honda) and Pere Riba (Kawasaki) making up the front row of the grid.  Young was in a class of his own, finally recovered from a broken arm sustained at the first Brands Hatch round.  He led from the start, winning by 9 secs from Karl Harris (Honda), Laverty and Riba.

SUPERSTOCK

The Scot's were inspired on their home track in the Superstock race.  Steve Allan (Kawasaki) was away in the lead early on to take the win, with Les Shand (Yamaha) 3rd and John MacDonald (Suzuki) 4th.  Only Andy Tinsley (Suzuki) spoilt the "party" in 2nd place.