He is far from complacent. After his successes at
Oulton Park he commented: "I do not think about the title – remember last year, Michael Rutter was 65 points clear, but he did not win the championship. I think only about each race, and taking as many points as possible from it."
That message cannot be lost on Ryuichi Kiyonari, the young Japanese rider now in his third season in the championship. He had been expected to pose the major threat to Lavilla, but so far, despite having a factory prepared HM Plant Honda, he has won only once, and is lying third in the standings. He had a victory and a third place last time at Mondello and now he needs a confidence boosting action replay.
There are the promises of surprises. Jonathan Rea, riding the
Red Bull Honda, took his maiden pole at the circuit last year – the young Ulsterman is back for more, with a maturing style and is determined to show what might have been, but for a first corner tumble and then a machine problem. He showed at Oulton Park he is capable of running with the best and is ready to deliver the goods. That is also the case with Michael Laverty, the team-mate of Michael Rutter, aboard the Stobart Motorsport Honda. He is relying on ‘home fan power’ to help him repeat his top four finish of last season.
Rutter also needs a strong result, while Steve Plater, boosted by his Superbike double in the NorthWest 200 should be a force to be reckoned with, while Scott Smart, a race winner at the circuit a couple of years ago, has been setting strong testing times aboard the Vivaldi Suzuki.
Tommy Hill heads the three rider Virgin Mobile Yamaha team, while Hawk Kawasaki are hoping that their Aussies Dean Thomas and Craig Coxhell can turn on the style. In the British Superbike Cup, Ulsterman Marty Nutt is hoping for a change of fortune after his machine problems in the previous round as he chases defending champion and current series leader James Buckingham.
