RUTTER FACES CRUCIAL CLASH

Michael Rutter (The Blade) faces a crucial double race ninth round of the THINK! British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park in his efforts to take the countries premier crown for the first time - the HM Plant Honda rider goes into the action on Sunday 18 July at the Leicestershire circuit knowing that nothing short of victories will suffice if he is to begin reeling in the 38 points deficit he has on John Reynolds.

The Rizla Suzuki racer has maintained his momentum and drive towards taking the crown for a third time in his career despite riding the last four races with a broken left collarbone - that is well on the way to being fully healed as Reynolds looks to add to his four race winning pedigree.

The Nottingham rider is having another highly consistent season, and that has given him the edge on Rutter, who has had something of a struggle in each of his last four appearances, losing ground in the title stakes.

For him, the final third of the season is a time of intense effort to get-ahead of the pack and add to his three race wins if he is to deny Reynolds the crown. However, the front running action is rather more than this private duel for supremacy.

Yukio Kagayama, the exciting and highly popular Japanese rider, aboard the second Rizla Suzuki, and Sean Emmett riding the MonsterMob Ducati both have outside hopes of taking the crown. Both are forceful, hard-charging riders who have to hit the front.

Both have tasted the winner's champagne already, and are hungry for more, and that could spell problems not just for the leading duo, but also the other riders currently playing catch up in a championship that so far has produced seven different race winners aboard five makes of bike.

The latest of these was James Haydon, who took his first victory in four years, and gave the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha team their first win in two years - the rider now based in Andorra has been deputising for the injured Steve Plater, and though the Lincolnshire rider has passed a fitness test, Haydon, after his heroics at Knockhill has retained his place in the team.

Yamaha will be fielding four bikes at Mallory, with Gary Mason and Tommy Hill completing their strong line up. Hawk Kawasaki should also be well on the pace, with Scott Smart, already twice a winner so far this season, looking good, alongside six times Isle of Man TT race winner John McGuinness.

Smart is eager for more. Third place in the overall rankings is well within his grasp, and he sees that as a positive return for both himself and the hard working team which has close links with the Mallory circuit.

And, in the championship within a championship, the Superbike Cup, for privateer riders and teams, James Ellison, riding the Jentin Yamaha, will be looking to tighten his grip on the crown, but under fire from Derby's Jon Kirkham and Dennis Hobbs.

Top ten positions in the THINK! British Superbike Championship after round eight:

1 John Reynolds 290

2 Michael Rutter 252

3 Yukio Kagayama 208

4 Sean Emmett 206

5 Scott Smart 199

6 Dean Thomas 108

7 Ryuichi Kiyonari 95

8 Tommy Hill 88

9 James Haydon 87

10 Glen Richards 78

ends