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Rutter crowned king at Sunflower
Date: 20 October 2008 The Newsletter
MICHAEL Rutter conquered the tricky autumnal conditions at Bishopscourt in County Down to wrestle the Sunflower Trophy away from five-times winner and Ulster favourite Michael Laverty.
Rutter (36), from Brierly Hill in the Midlands, was locked in a nip-and-tuck battle with his North West 200 Ducati team-mate, John Laverty, for much of the 12-lap feature race, held in blustery and damp weather, but utilised his experience and wet weather know-how to emerge triumphant.
"It was a great battle between myself and John and I wasn't surprised that he pushed me because he's a very adept rider and he did really well," a delighted Rutter – who also picked up a winners' cheque for £3,000 – told the News Letter.
"He made a mistake and I pounced on him, otherwise it would have been even closer at the finish.
"The conditions were really tricky but I was surprised because there was more grip out there than I thought.
"The organisers had been saying that it's been dry for the Sunflower races over the past number of years but even though it was wet today the racing was good and I enjoyed it," he added.
"It's been eight years since I last rode in the Sunflower so I'm delighted to win it for the second time on the North West 200 Ducati."
At the end of the opening lap, it was British Superbike Cup champion Laverty who led from Rutter, with Marshall Neill, Michael Laverty, Chris Walker and Alastair Seeley in hot pursuit.
A packed Bishopscourt was treated to a display of exhilarating action as Laverty continued to head the pack at half-distance, with Rutter keeping a watching brief in second, closely followed by Michael Laverty on the TAS Suzuki and Walker, who was beginning to bridge the gap to third on Paul Bird's Vent Axia Honda.
Walker's team-mate for the Sunflower, John McGuinness, retired from the race on lap two.
Rutter made his move on the next lap, but with less than one second covering the top four it was anyone's guess who would ultimately prevail.
However, as the race entered the crucial stage the two NW200 Ducatis – resplendent in their blood red, white and green livery – began to eat out a slight advantage.
Laverty posted the fastest lap of the race as he attempted to overhaul Rutter for the lead, but the wily British Superbike ace had the bit between his teeth and held on to clinch the Hillsborough club's prestigious Sunflower Trophy for the second time, after he last won the coveted accolade eight years ago on the V&M Yamaha.
Laverty completed a super one-two for the NW200 Ducati team, with World Superbike veteran Walker edging out last year's winner Laverty for third.
Marshall Neill was fifth, Seeley rounded off the top six while Ian Lowry – riding the TAS Superbike – was seventh.
Rutter revealed that he expects to learn whether or not he will remain in the North West 200 team in the British Superbike Championship in 2009 within the next fortnight.
"Nothing has been sorted out yet with regards next season but I should know where I stand in the next two weeks," he said.
Although Suzuki rider Laverty failed to achieve his sixth Sunflower success, he was a double winner in the Superbike races, beating Rutter and his brother John in Saturday's race and Walker and Seeley in the second outing yesterday morning.
TT hero McGuinness – a late entry at Bishopscourt, replacing Spaniard Gregorio Lavilla – was eighth and tenth.
Brian McCormack accumulated enough points to wrap up the Irish Superbike title after Ballymena's Denver Robb retired from the Sunflower race on lap seven.
Lisburn's Lowry was a double winner in the Supersport races, with Mark Lunney and William Dunlop taking wins apiece in the 125cc class.
Lunney and Christian Elkin were victorious in the 250cc races, while World Sidecar champions, Tim Reeves and Patrick Farrance, proved their class by winning the second sidecar event, with the first going to Sean and Mark Hegarty.
RESULTS: Sunflower Trophy Race – 1 M Rutter; 2 J Laverty; 3 C Walker; 4 M Laverty; 5 M Neill; 6 A Seeley; 7 I Lowry; 8 J Kennedy; 9 B McCormack; 10 S Titterington.
Superbike Race 2 – 1 M Laverty; 2 C Walker; 3 A Seeley; 4 J Laverty; 5 I Lowry; 6 M Rutter. Superbike Race 1 (Sat) – 1 M Laverty; 2 M Rutter; 3 J Laverty; 4 C Walker; 5 I Lowry; 6 M Neill.
Supersport 600 Race 1 – 1 I Lowry; 2 A Seeley; 3 BJ Toal; 4 M Nutt; 5 M Neill; 6 L Johnston. (Race 2) – 1 I Lowry; 2 L Johnston; 3 A Seeley; 4 M Nutt; 5 M Neill; 6 BJ Toal.
250GP Race 1 – 1 C Elkin; 2 M Lunney; 3 P Robinson; 4 N Percy; 5 D McLaughlin; 6 D Craig. (Race 2) – 1 M Lunney; 2 C Elkin; 3 W Dunlop; 4 N Percy; 5 C McAloran; 6 D McLaughlin.
125GP Race 1 – M Lunney; 2 W Dunlop; 3 PJ Jacobsen; 4 J Hastings; 5 P Jordan; 6 J Elliott. (Race 2) – 1 W Dunlop; 2 J Elliott; 3 T Hastings; 4 S Elwood; 5 N Percy; 6 D Lemon.
Sidecar Race 1 – 1 S Hegarty/M Hegarty; 2 T Reeves/P Farrance; 3 B Birchall/T Birchall; 4 J Clarke/M Hull. (Race 2) – 1 T Reeves/P Farrance; 2 S Hegarty/M Hegarty; 3 B Birchall/T Birchall; 4 A Schofield/S Thomas.
Mini-Twins Race 1 – 1 W Kirwan; 2 L Hill; 3 A Brown; 4 A Glasgow. (Race 2) – 1 A Glasgow; 2 J Phillips; 3 L Hill; 4 D Gilpin.
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