Snett; Suzuki Score Double Wins
Added on Sunday, April 25th, 2004 by Carole Nash Editor
Snett; Suzuki Score Double Wins
British Superbikes at Snetterton produced some close fought racing, with Suzuki riders John Reynolds and Yukio Kagayama both taking a victory apiece.
Race one saw Kagayama and Reynolds duelling all the way to the flag for the win, with the Japanese rider just able to hold off JR. Rutter finished in third, seemingly unable to close the gap and challenge either of the Suzukis, despite the Honda’s reputed speed in a straight line.
Sean Emmett was fourth, with Scott Smart going well to take fifth place on the Hawk Kawasaki. Dean Thomas on the Sendo Ducati finished sixth, just ahead of second HM Plant Honda man Kiyonari. Meanwhile Steve Plater was bumped off by a crashing Craig Coxhall and Gary Mason - another Virgin Yamaha runner - failed to finish race one. On the upside, Tommy Hill put his Yamaha across the line in 8th place.
The warm summer weather conditions stayed for race two which saw Reynolds lead the charge, and stay the distance to take the win. Emmett chased hard but was a distant second place for much of the race, and despite Rutter setting a lap record, and overtaking Emmett, he couldn’t catch JR either.
Kagayama settled for 4th place in race two, after a slight error cost him third place and let Rutter past. Yukio couldn’t close the gap on Emmett in third by the end of the race either.
Dean Thomas was consistent again and took a respectable 5th on a bike which was obviously slower than the Suzuki or Honda fours. Scott Smart was 6th, Glen Richards 7th and Plater - battered and bruised - did well to come home in 8th spot. Tommy Hill and Kiyonari rounded out the top ten
