Yukio Kagayama took an emotional victory in the second of the two races in the eleventh round of the THINK! British Superbike Championship to complete a memorable return to the Cadwell Park circuit where a year earlier he had suffered critical injuries in an horrific accident.

The Japanese rider had been thrilled to have taken third place in the first race, won by Michael Rutter, just, from his HM Plant Honda team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari, but there was better to come as he proved the master of difficult conditions on a drying track.

The Rizla Suzuki rider had gambled correctly on tyre selection and he led throughout to take a highly popular victory.

“Here there are bad memories - I had a nearly fatal accident here, but now, the memories and the feelings are good. This is a special win for me, and this is a special circuit for me for all reasons. I am much happy now,” smiled Kagayama, who consolidated his fourth place in the overall standings.

Scott Smart held onto second place, ahead of Sean Emmett while Reynolds struggled into eighth: “I had the same tyres as Yukio but every time I tried to push, I nearly lost the front and could have crashed again.”

Reynolds had arrived at the Lincolnshire circuit hoping to build on his 50 points advantage in the title stakes, but he crashed out of the opener early on as Rutter took the victory.

That success halved Reynolds's lead, though Rutter admitted his team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari had been “nice” to him as they ran line astern throughout. “There are no team-orders, and he was close behind all of the time.

Rutter however was in trouble next out. He had opted to race on full-wet tyres and was forced out of the race at half distance to leave him trailing Reynolds by 33 points with two rounds remaining.

James Ellison, with a second place to Jon Kirkham, and then a victory, underlined his supremacy in the Superbike Cup, and stretched his lead to 93 points.

On a packed support race programme, Richard Wren took the victory, and with it the title in the Yamaha R6 Cup and with it a factory Superbike rider for 2005, but there was bitter disappointment for Karl Harris. The Honda rider had expected to clinch the Supersport title, but was sidelined early on when his chain flipped off after cresting the `mountain.' Jay Vincent took the victory.

Danny Beaumont held off Danny Beaumont to win the Superstock race, with Ashley Beech taking the honours in the 125cc race, finishing some seven seconds clear Christian Laverty with Eugene Laverty third.   Peter Hickman dominated the National Superstock Cup race.

Latest standings - THINK! British Superbike Championship - Round 11

1 John Reynolds 370

2 Michael Rutter 337

3 Scott Smart 296

4 Yukio Yagayama 290

5 Sean Emmett 262

6 Ryuichi Kiyonari 170

7 James Haydon 155

8 Dean Thomas 155

9 Tommy Hill 116

10 Gary Mason 100

Ends