Rutter’s positive start to BSB

Michael Rutter goes to Thruxton next weekend confident that the Dcuati V-twin has a good record on the ultra fast, bumpy course.

Rutter enjoyed a positive start to his season, finishing sixth in the second race of Easter Monday’s opening round of the BSB season at Brands Hatch.

Rutter had already finished seventh in the opening race and his team-mate Martin Jessopp was also among the points with 11th and 9th place finishes from the two races.

Rutter said: “This is the best this Ducati has ever been and that’s a credit to the team after all their hard work this winter.  I’m really pleased with the Brands results.

“We’ve still got work we can do to improve the bike further and there’s more to come from me. But this has been a really good start to the season and I’m looking forward to Thruxton.” 

Jessopp added: “I made the worst starts in the world at Brands. I think as Michael went forward, I went backwards.

“And once I finally got into a rhythm in race one, it was broken when the red flag was shown after Laverty’s bike blew up.

“I wasn’t the only one to roll it off when we saw the flag but it was hard to get going again and I’d lost the slipstream from the guys in front by then,

“My race two start was even worse. I was last at the end of the first lap. So while I’m not happy finishing ninth, I’ve got to be pleased with the way I got through the traffic to finish that high up.”

Team owner Phil Jessopp said: “Michael rode well and deserved his top six finish in race two and I believe he can go really well at Thruxton..

“Martin needs to get the bike off the line better but I think everyone in the team was delighted with the way he dug deep to battle his way through the pack.

“We’re looking forward to Thruxton. Our Ducati v-twins are well suited to the fast, bumpy circuit.”