Reynolds fights back at Silverstone.

By Adam Arnold

British Superbike stalwart, and Crash.net columnist, John Reynolds led from the second lap in the second British Superbike race at Silverstone to take victory over Honda boys Ryuichi Kiyonari and third placed Michael Rutter on his Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000.

28 Mar 2004

By Adam Arnold

Earlier in the day race one had been damp, and Michael Rutter, the blade upon the 'blade, had dominated proceedings, but as the day had gone on the track had dried as the sun broke through the clouds ready for race two.

Michael Rutter, on the HM Honda, made one of the worst starts he has ever made and slipped from pole to ninth by the first corner. Ryuichi Kiyonri on the other HM Honda made a great start from fourth and led into the first corner, with the Rizla Suzukis of Reynolds and Yukio Kagayama, and the Ducati of Sean Emmett close behind.

On the second lap Kiyonari made an uncharacteristic error braking into a corner and run wide, leaving the door wide open for Reynolds to take advantage. Kagayama who was running in third retired after reporting to have heard a strange noise coming from the engine so chose to retire instead of risking a costly and dangerous engine failure. After such a good result in the first race coming back from a life threatening injury, the crowd applauded him as he drove into the Rizla Suzuki pits. This allowed Richards on the Hawk Kawasaki to move up into fourth.

Reynolds then seemed to make a break from Kiyonari as he put in some quick times. Rutter who had fallen down the field after his bad start made three places and was lying in sixth by lap three. By lap four, in his effort to regain his top position, Rutter had set a new lap record and moved up to fifth behind fourth placed Richards.

Responding to Reynolds' quick lap, Kiyonri began to close the small gap and by lap five was all over the back of the leading Suzuki. Rutter continued to set new lap records as he moved up the field and by lap seven had disbanded with Richards and moved into forth. On the next lap, in an attempt to keep up with the scorching Rutter, Richards lost the front and came off which unfortunately ended his weekend.

Rutter then continued to be the fastest on the track as he took Emmett for third and by lap fourteen was on the back wheel of Kiyonari. On the next lap the leading trio then came up to overtake a back marker who held the racing line, not allowing Reynolds to pass. This caused Kiyoari to back off as Reynolds waved his fist in disgust at the back marker. Rutter took this opportunity to put his bike under Kiyonari and take second place. Reynolds and Rutter than began to stretch a lead over Kiyonari and by lap eighteen were nearly two seconds ahead.

A mistake under braking from Rutter allowed Kiyonari to take back second place as they entered the penultimate lap. This gave Reynolds some breathing space for the remainder of the race to bring the Rizla Suzuki home for a well-earned race win.

The Virgin Yamaha boys, Mason, Plater and Hill, all kept their bikes sticky side down to come home in eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.

Top ten
1.John Reynolds Rizla Suzuki
2.Ryuichi Kiyonari HM Honda
3.Michael Rutter HM Honda
4.Sean Emmett Monstermob Ducati
5.Scott Smart Hawk Kawaski
6.Dean Thomas Sendo Ducati Dienza
7.Stuart Easton ETI Ducati
8.Gary Mason Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha
9.Steve Plater Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha
10.Tommy Hill Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha