Renegade and Rizla wildcards at Silverstone WSB

Renegade Ducati and Rizla Suzuki have both entered their riders as wildcards in the British round of the World Superbike championship at Silverstone this weekend.

Suzuki riders John Reynolds and Yukio Kagayama are both looking to take the win at the event. Reynolds has already won a WSB round at Brands Hatch in 2000, while Kagayama is a former GP rider and is keen to show that he can still compete at the top level.

Different rules in the World Championship mean the GSX-R1000 will need to fit air intake restricters if it wants to take part, but initial tests have shown that they make no major difference to the bikes performance and the team expect to be riding at the front of the field.

An optimistic Reynolds said: ” We have tested the GSX-R1000 with the air restricters you have to run in WSB and I couldn’t tell the difference. The bike is good enough to win and I’m sure the World Superbike races will bring the best out in our team. ”

Renegade Ducati’s Michael Rutter, who is currently running second in the British championship, views the races slightly differently.

” The World Superbike rounds are essential events to keep learning, ” said Rutter. ” When Mark Griffiths [Renegade Ducati team boss] gave me the option of doing the TT or Silverstone, there was no contest as far as I was concerned. The TT would have given me the chance to earn a lot of money but the experience that both I and the team can gain from the World Superbike round is much more valuable. ”

Both teams also plan to race in the ninth WSB round, which takes place at Brands Hatch on July 27.

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