Rapid Ducati's Michael Rutter was understandably annoyed with the outcome of the opening British Superbike race at Cadwell Park this weekend after ending it on the grass at Hall Bends and, in his own words, 'it's wrecked my season'.
Rutter was looking good in third place when Josh Brookes dived up the inside of him going into Hall Bends and, in the ensuing contact, he was pushed onto the grass and crashed heavily. With damaged ribs the outcome, whether or not Rutter can complete the races today remains unclear but it's almost certainly handed the final Showdown spot to HM Plant Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari.
"As far as I'm concerned, Brookes shouldn't have tried to pass me there at that time and I literally didn't know anything about it - I was right at the apex of the corner when he suddenly appeared and hit me and the next thing I knew was that I was on the grass and then on the deck trying to breathe," said the veteran racer.
"It took me ten attempts at a breath just to get half of one and I thought I was dying! I know he's passed people before there - he did it to me last year but in that case I got bad drive and he was ahead of me going into the corner so it was fair enough, this time it wasn't."
"I felt really comfortable in third and the bike was working well and, of course, with Kiyo back in sixth, I'd have overhauled him for the final Showdown spot in that race alone but, instead, I'm sitting here now beaten up and with my season wrecked.
"Saying it's a shame is an understatement, not just for myself but also for the whole team, Rapid Solicitors, Bathams, Riders, everyone. Josh is having a go at me for me getting his points taken off him but that was the stewards decision, nothing to do with me. If it was down to me, I'd have taken more than his points off him!"
Rutter went out in morning warm-up with his ribs heavily strapped and could only manage 23rd spot. He later said the strapping was too tight and is hoping the adjustments will enable him to race later today. He's qualified in fifth place for the opening lap compared to Kiyonari's 16th.
