Smart gives ZX-10R its first big win

Scott Smart and Michael Rutter shared victories at the fifth round of the British Superbike championship at Mondello Park.

Smart took his Hawk Kawasaki ZX-10R to his first BSB victory after slipping down the inside of championship leader John Reynolds in the closing stages of the race.

Michael Rutter was leading the first race but lost the rear on his Honda Fireblade twice in a row throwing him off the track. Reynolds took over the lead but Smart harassed him throughout the race eventually managing to take advantage when the Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider ran a little wide in the same place on two consecutive laps. Reynolds didn’t give up easily but Smart took the race win by just 0.002 seconds.

Rutter was determined to make up for his earlier mistake and lead the second race throughout. Reynolds had to settle for his fourth second place in a row. Smart was on Reynolds tail again but this time had to settle for third place.

It was definitely a good day for the privately owned Hawk team with Smart’s team-mate Glen Richards taking third in the first race behind Reynolds, and fourth in the second race behind Smart.

Championship standings:

1 John Reynolds Suzuki 167

2 Michael Rutter Honda 149

3 Yukio Kagayama Suzuki 128

4 Scott Smart Kawasaki 90

5 Sean Emmett Ducati 86