Fourth place for Rutter and Bathams/SMT Racing at Cadwell

Michael Rutter and the Bathams/SMT Racing team were back in Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship action at the weekend and although the Cadwell Park meeting proved to be a challenging affair, the Bridgnorth rider took a strong fourth place to maintain his third place overall in the Championship.

With mixed weather conditions during free practice and qualifying, Michael found himself towards the bottom end of the top ten in each session and with the solitary qualifying session held in damp, but drying, conditions, a time of 1m30.658s meant he started the race from the relatively unfamiliar position of tenth and the fourth row.

Sunday saw fine weather at the Lincolnshire venue and a trademark good start saw Michael and the BMW S1000RR complete the first of the 15 laps in sixth place. The safety car was deployed for a short period almost immediately with the race resuming on lap four and Michael wasted no time in moving up to fifth as he overhauled Alex Olsen.

Here he remained for the next few laps but at half race distance he was still only 1.7s behind then race leader Chrissy Rouse. With five laps to go, Luke Hedger pushed Michael back to sixth but the Aprilia rider crashed out shortly afterwards so Michael was back into fifth and this was the position he finished in to maintain his third place overall in the Championship table.

However, Rouse’s machine failed a post race technical inspection and he was subsequently excluded from the results, promoting Michael up to fourth and strengthening his third place overall in the Championship table.

Michael Rutter: "It was a tough weekend to be honest so to come away with fourth place feels really good and just reward for all of the team's efforts. With it being my first time here in three years, I was on the back foot a bit and struggled during practice and qualifying whilst a number of riders had tested here earlier in the year which didn't help matters. We were having a few little hiccups but had a good look at the bike after qualifying and the changes we made really helped with the handling of the bike. It was miles better in the race and although it was still backing in a bit to the corners, that was more me not getting the electronics quite right. I was pleased with fifth but to get promoted up to fourth was even better and it keeps the season ticking over nicely."

The next round takes place at Silverstone, Northants on September 8-10 but Michael now heads straight to the Isle of Man for the Classic TT Races practice having already got underway on Saturday evening.

Pictures by Double Red Pirelli

National Superstock 1000 race (15 laps)
1 Danny Buchan (Kawasaki)
2 Richard Cooper (Suzuki)
3 Mason Law (Kawasaki)
4 Michael Rutter (Bathams/SMT Racing BMW)
5 Josh Elliott (BMW)
6 Adam Jenkinson (BMW)

Championship standings (after nine rounds)
1 Buchan 286pts
2 Cooper 261
3 Rutter 190
4 Rouse 153.5
5 Law 127
6 Jenkinson 113.5