Rutter's double podium was his first since
Knockhill in 2005, in doing so he picked up the Eurosport 'Rider of the Day' award while Laverty was exceptional on the standard 1098R Ducati to take the early Cup championship advantage.
"It's a mega feeling to be back up at the front and it's been a long time coming," beamed Rutter. "The whole team have worked so hard all weekend and this is a awesome result for everyone. I couldn't have asked for better and I am confident we can continue this form through the rest of the season. I'd like to thank the whole team for working so hard this weekend and really pleased I could pull two good results out of the bag for them. I've had a few difficult years and I'm loving being back on a Ducati."
"I'm really pleased to have got the first races under my belt and I now have a comfortable 20 point lead in the Daily Star Cup series," said Laverty, twelfth and eleventh when ranked amongst the BSB class riders. "The bike felt brilliant all weekend and considering I'm still on a very much standard road bike I'm very happy where I ended up in the main championship. I was having a battle with my brother Michael throughout the weekend and hopefully I'll be able to get the better of him at some point. I'd like to thank all my team for working as hard as they have and they deserve this result."
"I'm over the moon with the results that the two riders have gained today and we couldn't have asked for a better start to the season," enthused team manager Ken Foley. "It has made all the work over the last six or seven month worthwhile and we are definitely going in the direction that we had hoped for and it would be good for us if we can continue this form throughout the season and carry on achieving similar results. We're looking forward to getting to
Oulton Park in a couple of weeks time."
