Scott Smart and James Haydon took the victories in a rain ravaged eighth

round of the THINK! British Superbike Championship at the short, demanding

Knockhill circuit in Scotland on a day that saw the leading duo in the

title chase, John Reynolds and Michael Rutter, struggle for positions.

The opening race, with the track beginning to dry posed tyre selection

problems, but the Hawk Kawasaki team gambled correctly, fitting

intermediates of Smart's bike and the Maidstone rider took full advantage,

moving ahead of Gary Mason on the seventh lap and then dictating terms from

the front as he took the victory by 18 seconds from Haydon.

Reynolds, who had made a particularly slow start from pole, upped the

tempo, charging his Rizla Suzuki into fourth place, just adrift of his

team-mate Yukio Kagayama, while Rutter was struggling, running ninth and

being lapped by the race winner.

"It was a frustrating outcome for me, tyre selection was a lottery and the

conditions made life difficult," moaned Rutter, while Smart enjoyed his

second victory of the campaign:"It as good, the tyres were just right,

although I agonised about fitting a full wet to the front. I'm glad I

didn't as it worked out."

Haydon, who had given the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha team their best

result in over a year, went one better in the second 25 lapper, taking the

lead on the second lap from Kagayama and then holding off the fierce late

challenge from MonsterMob Ducati rider Sean Emmett.

"That was a great result, a real confidence booster. I am delighted to have

these results and feel that I have repaid the faith that Rob McElnea and

his team have shown in me. I have worked very hard to make the most of this

opportunity, and to give the team their first victory in two years is

superb," smiled Haydon, deputising in the team for the injured Steve

Plater. He was tasting the winner's champagne for the first time in four

years and added: "I'm on the up now, and mean business!"

Reynolds took third place, ahead of the determined HM Plant Honda rider

Rutter, and that extended the twice former champions lead in the series to

38 points.

ends