RIZLA SUZUKI’S John Reynolds crushed the opposition to win both races at the penultimate round of the 2004 Think! British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park, extending his Championship lead and securing the Manufacturers title in the process.

Commanding both races from the front, JR never looked as though he would be headed as he brought his Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 home well ahead of the competition. With seven wins to his name, he now leads the Championship by 43-points from Honda’s Michael Rutter, with only 50-points left to score at the final round of the series at Donington Park next weekend.

JR’s first double win of the year means Rizla Suzuki is confirmed as the 2004 Manufacturers Champion with the all-conquering GSX-R1000 which has now recorded 24-podiums out of 24-starts this year and has won the last five races at Oulton Park.

Rizla Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama battled bravely in both races to take a pair of podium thirds and cement himself firmly in third place in the overall standings. Yuki rode both races with the aim of helping his team mate as his priority and was the first person JR thanked when he got of his bike.

The final round of the Think! British Superbike Championship takes place at Donington Park next Sunday, September 19th. It is JR’s home circuit and he goes there determined to secure his third British Superbike Championship and needing only eight points to do so. It is also a favourite track for Yuki who has raced for Suzuki in MotoGP at the venue. He is hoping to finish the season with a flourish. Superbike racing starts at 1:15pm at Donington Park.

JR:
“We needed that today! I don’t want to win this Championship by finishing fifth or sixth and hanging on to a slender lead, I want to win it from the front like a true Champion. Well done to Rizla Suzuki and my team for taking the Manufacturers Championship, I hope I can add another title to that next weekend!

“Thanks to my entire Rizla Suzuki team for all the hard work that has been put in. Yuki was brilliant defending my lead in the second race and I owe him a beer. A special thanks goes to Dunlop for providing me with two brilliant race tyres and finally, thank you to all the fans who cheered me round the circuit - I heard you!”

Yuki:
“This was best result possible today for me. My Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 is very well set-up and I have much confidence in my bike. In race one I have poor start and third is good result. In race two I am second for most of time and only just get edged to third on last lap.

“Well done to John-san, he has made big points gap today with not many points left to score. It is very happy day for Rizla Suzuki as we are Manufacturer Champions in 2004. This makes me smile, I am Suzuki Factory rider and I am proud.”

Paul Denning, Team Manager:
“We have pulled through a few difficult rounds and come out the other side with a fantastic result. The first double of the year by JR shows he is back to the top of his game. Knowing John he won’t be turning up looking for just enough points at Donington to secure the title, he’ll be looking to win the Championship with victory in the races and we’ll be giving him our full backing to achieve that.

“What a ride by Yuki! His grit and determination in the first race brought him from 10th on the first lap to third by the end. In the second race he did a sterling job holding off Michael Rutter and letting JR build up a lead before just losing out on second place at the line. Regardless, he is now a strong third in the series and on the Championship podium where he belongs.

“We have been to the final round at Donington and only laps away from winning the Championship before - and that time we missed out. We will be doing everything in our ability and power to take the Championship next weekend and bring the number one plate home for JR. Rizla Suzuki is the deserved winner of the Manufacturers title and we hope to add to that...Thanks to all our partners and fans for their continued support, we hope to see you at Donington.”

Race 1

1 J Reynolds, Suzuki
2 M Rutter, Honda
3 Y Kagayama, Suzuki
4 S Emmett, Ducati
5 S Plater, Yamaha
6 G Richards, Kawasaki
7 D Thomas, Ducati
8 S Smart, Kawasaki
9 T Hill, Yamaha
10 P Brown, Ducati

Race 2

1 J Reynolds, Suzuki
2 M Rutter, Honda
3 Y Kagayama, Suzuki
4 S Emmett, Ducati
5 D Thomas, Ducati
6 R Kiyonari, Honda
7 S Plater, Yamaha
8 J Haydon, Yamaha
9 G Richards, Kawasaki
10 T Hill, Yamaha

Championship standing after 12 rounds

420 J Reynolds
377 M Rutter
322 Y Kagayama
304 S Smart
288 S Emmett
184 R Kiyonari
175 D Thomas
165 J Haydon
129 T Hill
115 G Richards