James Haydon not only became the seventh rider to win a race in this year's

THINK! British Superbike Championship, but he also ensured that each of the

five major manufacturers participating with factory backed teams has enjoyed

a taste of the winner's champagne.

The former Foggy Petronas World Championship rider took the honours in the

second race of the eighth round in the rain at Knockhill, completing a solid

performance having earlier in the day taken a hard earned second place to

Scott Smart.

Haydon's performance, both boosted his own confidence and also repaid the

faith shown in him by the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha team who drafted him

into their squad as replacement for the injured rider Steve Plater.

It was Yamaha's first victory in the series in almost two years, and

rewarded the hard work by Rob McElnea's team in developing the all new R1

Superbike into a winner on the track. For Haydon, it was his first victory

in four years, and, that success has given both rider and team the appetite

for more, beginning with the next round at Mallory Park on Sunday 18 July.

Rated universally as the toughest, most competitive domestic series in the

world, the British Championship was selected by the mighty Honda Racing

Corporationas the championship in which they would debut their all new Fireblade,

which in the colour of team sponsors HM Plant took victory first time out at Silverstone

in the hands of Michael Rutter.

John Reynolds, the current series leader who is bidding to take the crown

for a third time, won the second race at the Northamptonshire circuit for

the Rizla Suzuki team, while Sean Emmett took his MonsterMob Ducati to

victory in the second round at Brands Hatch.

Yukio Kagayama, riding Rizla Suzuki, enjoyed successes at both Snetterton

and Oulton Park, prior to Hawk Kawasaki taking a highly popular victory at

Mondello Park, with Smart, a racer who also plays a significant role in

terms of machine preparation, enjoying maiden glory in the series.

Leon Haslam became the sixth rider to taste glory, with a fine ride aboard

the Renegade Ducati on the Brands Hatch grand prix circuit, and then Haydon,

re-igniting his career in the process, completed the magnificent seven.

With ten races remaining and thoughts of 2005 employment looming expect

the best of the rest to be challenging harder than ever for membership of the BSB

winners' club.    The likes of Dean Thomas, Steve Plater, Gary Mason, Tommy Hill,

Ryuichi Kionari, James Ellison and John McGuiness will all be out to prove a point.

ends

2004 THINK! British Superbike Championship

Remaining rounds: