BSB MONDELLO PARK, IRELAND, 23/05/04

Everyone who made the long trip to Mondello Park in Ireland was able to enjoy a nice sunny weekend.  John Reynolds (Suzuki) and Michael Rutter (Honda) disputed pole position throughout qualifying, with it finally going to Michael Rutter.  Dean Thomas (Ducati) and Scott Smart (Kawasaki) made up the front row of the grid.

Tom Sykes (Suzuki) had his first Supersport pole position, he was joined on the front row by Cal Crutchlow (Honda), Simon Andrews (Yamaha) and Michael Laverty (Ducati).  Karl Harris (Honda) had problems and could only manage 9th on the third row of the grid.

The Sidecars made an appearance at Mondello Park, with Steve Webster and Paul Woodhead taking pole position.  They won race 1 and finished 2nd in race 2.

SUPERBIKE RACE 1

Michael Rutter made an excellent start to lead on lap 1, this time with John Reynolds further down in the pack, but he was up to 2nd next time round.  Tommy Hill (Virgin Mobile Yamaha) was having a good ride in 6th place.  Lap 3 saw Scott Smart take over 2nd place and Glen Richards (Hawk Kawasaki) pass Reynolds for 3rd.  Places changed a few times and Hill retired on lap 8.  Reynolds moved into 2nd place, then Rutter crashed on lap 14 leaving Reynolds in the lead with Smart 2nd and Richards 3rd.  Smart set about catching Reynolds, then with a brilliant overtaking manoeuver at Dunlop corner on the last lap he won by a hair's breadth. 

 
SUPERBIKE RACE 2

Once again Rutter got away from the line to lead the race on lap 1, and this time he managed to stay there to the end to take a well deserved win.  Tommy Hill ran in 3rd place for a few laps and finished in a good 6th place.  Reynolds finished 2nd, but couldn't catch Rutter.  Smart was on the podium again in 3rd place, and Richards had another good ride to finish 4th.

SUPERSPORT

Michael Laverty made a good start to lead on lap 1 from Cal Crutchlow (Honda) and Tom Sykes.  Karl Harris also made a good start, so good it was a jump start, and was in 6th place.  On lap 4 Harris took his pit lane ride through, dropping him way down the order.  Simon Andrews (Yamaha) was working his way up to take 2nd place on lap 6.  3rd to 6th places kept changing for most of the race.  On lap 13 Andrews moved into the lead to hold on for his first ever Supersport win, with Laverty 2nd.  Meanwhile Harris was having the ride of his life working his way through the pack to finally take 3rd place on lap 13.