Mallory is primarily a fast looping track, but the tight Shaw’s hairpin and Bus Stop chicane complex, at the end of the lap, mean that a nimble handling bike is also important. As of last year, there is also Edwina’s chicane at the end of Stebbe straight, on the opposite side from the start-finish Kirkby straight, which has provided a useful extra passing opportunity.

Qualifying saw the two HM Plant Hondas set the pace, with points leader Ryuichi Kiyonari on pole ahead of Michael Rutter. A third FireBlade lined up at the head of row two, that of Karl Harris, but behind the Hawk Kawasaki pair of Glen Richards and Dean Thomas. Scott Smart was seventh for Rizla Suzuki, two places ahead of experienced team-mate John Reynolds, with the 27-year-old sandwiched between the two Airwaves Ducatis.

The first of these was piloted by Leon Haslam, with Gregorio Lavilla retained on bike 36. The GSE/Airwaves team had decided that it would not be practical to run a three rider, six bike entry, and so the fully fit James Haydon had stepped aside so that substitute Lavilla could continue, given that he was second in the points table after four podium results. Reynolds was ahead of the lead privateer, 20-year-old James Buckingham and his Suzuki, with Steve Plater, John McGuinness, Tommy Hill and Jon Kirkham following on.

Race one was only moments old before the first drama, as Harris and Lavilla came together around Gerrard’s, sending both riders and the Honda into a big tumble along the grass. Meanwhile, Kiyonari had gone straight into the lead, quickly looking like pulling away from Rutter, Richards and the rest, with Lavilla having been fourth into turn one before the accident.

Kiyo’s threatened dominance was short lived. Braking for Edwina’s, the back wheel hopped sideways, and the Honda went onto the grass. There was no time to regain control before bike and rider had crashed into the barrier. Ryuichi’s 100% record ended on the spot, and he wouldn’t be fit enough to start race two. There were also doubts about him for the following round, at Oulton Park - see separate story.

This accident brought out the red flags and, under new rules for 2005, the re-start would be a whole new race. As ever, riders line up in the order at the stoppage, but now there is no aggregate timing for the first and second parts, making it easier for spectators and riders alike to know how positions stand. This time, rookie Tristan Palmer led away on the Vivaldi Kawasaki, from Richards and Rutter. The 22-year-old lost out as they went three abreast into Edwina’s, with Rutter on the very inside and taking the lead, from Richards.

Whilst the first pair got clear, Palmer seemed to hold up Haslam, Hill, Thomas and the rest. Virgin Yamaha man Hill was the man in form, passing Haslam, and then Palmer coming out of the hairpin. Tommy then moved into a secure third as the group behind continued their battle, and looked on for his best BSB result. But he was later thwarted by an obviously frustrating mechanical problem crossing the start-finish line.

Team-mate Sean Emmett had joined the group behind, as the experienced fast men took their turns to relegate Palmer, with Haslam, Thomas and Emmett going through in quick succession, soon joined by Smart and Michael Laverty. Emmett passed Thomas at Edwina’s, and a subsequent moment for the Australian allowed Smart to capitalise for fifth.

© Raceline Photography

By the flag, Rutter had an impressive sized lead over a lonely Richards, with Haslam and Emmett close to each other as they followed over the line. Smart, Thomas, Laverty, Gary Mason, Beaumont, Steve Brogan, McGuinness, Dennis Hobbs, Palmer, Jonathan Rea and Buckingham were the other points scorers, whilst injured riders Reynolds and Jeremy McWilliams both failed to score, and Plater crashed late on.

Race two went ahead without Kiyonari and Reynolds, as Rutter led away, from Richards, Thomas, Haslam, Lavilla, Harris and Smart. Lavilla was looking to make up for earlier disappoint, moving past team-mate Haslam at Edwina’s. Meanwhile, however, Hobbs managed to crash coming out of the hairpin, and it wasn’t long before Hill had a big highside crash at the final fast left bend, Devil’s Elbow. Once again the race was stopped.

Part two saw Richards lead the charge, from Rutter, Thomas and Haslam. The first two got into a hard fought battle, changing places twice at the chicane, and with Rutter finally getting the advantage on the inside into Gerrard’s. Lavilla again had to get in front of Haslam, with Harris in a close sixth, and Gregorio started to break clear before passing Thomas for third. Buckingham was an early crasher, but a huge Kawasaki engine blow-up for Michael Pensavalle led to another stoppage, due the oil dropped onto the track.

Richards was first away in part three, but Rutter was soon ahead again, with Thomas, Lavilla and Emmett next. Richards fought back at the chicane, with Thomas also threatening, but in no time Rutter was ahead and moving clear for another comfortable victory. Lavilla maintained his form of the first two rounds, getting by Thomas at the chicane and closing in on Richards. They finished together, but with the Kawasaki ahead.

Thomas maintained fourth, from Haslam, with Harris, Mason, Smart, Laverty, Emmett, Ben Wilson, McGuinness, Palmer, Rea and Kieran Clarke the other scorers. McWilliams had pulled out, still troubled by his shoulder injury from Thruxton - see separate story.

The record of HM Plant Honda was maintained, but Ryuichi Kiyonari’s crash had given team-mate Michael Rutter the advantage in the points, and might have a more lasting effect. In a dramatic, crash-filled weekend, Gregorio Lavilla also missed out on the chance to stay in P2, but kept up a run of podium placings for every race finished. Glen Richards had his best ever British Superbike outing with two seconds, keeping the Kawasaki up front even as the Suzuki runners continued to struggle.

Standings after six races: Rutter 119; Kiyonari 100; Lavilla 88; Richards 83; Emmett 65; Haslam 62; Thomas 54; Harris 48; Smart 36; Mason 30; MLaverty 19; Reynolds, Hill and McWilliams 16.

To buy the photographs shown above, visit Raceline Photography

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