Motor Sport/British Superbikes Championship: Michael Rutter heads the star-studded entry for the Bord Fáilte sponsored 2004 THINK! British Superbike Championship spectacular at Mondello Park on Sunday. Honda rider Rutter recorded a double in last Saturday's North West 200, where he was electronically timed at an awesome 201.10 m.p.h., the fastest speed ever recorded on the famous Portrush circuit.
He will be hard to beat on the slower but nonetheless challenging Kildare track, where his main rivals will be championship leader John Reynolds (Suzuki), Japanese pair Yukio Kagayama and Ryuichi Kiyonari, reigning champion Sean Emmett and Stuart Easton on Ducatis, and Kawasaki riders Scott Smart and Glenn Richards.
Kiyonari returns after an enforced lay-off and should be back to speed after a recent test session at Mondello. Through mechanical troubles, Rutter trails Reynolds by 18 points in the championship.
Karl Harris (Honda) is favourite for the Supersport class, in which Ulster's Michael Laverty (Ducati) and Adrian Coates (Suzuki) are expected to be very competitive.
Practise takes place today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Qualifying runs from 9.15 a.m. tomorrow followed by races for MCUI 600cc and sidecars.
Sunday is a busy day, with warm-up from 9.15 a.m. The two rounds of the British Championship are at 12.15 and 2.45 p.m.
The 75th anniversary of the first (of three) Irish Grands Prix will be celebrated at the Phoenix Park motor races on July 17th and 18th. Details will be announced by Motorsport Ireland at a function in Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, Co Dublin, next Tuesday at 8 p.m. The cover charge is €20 (to include film show) and all are welcome.
The Anglesey Circuit, a short distance from Holyhead, hosts Rounds three and four of the Irish Dunlop Fiat Abarth Cup tomorrow and Sunday. Eric Holstein will start favourite.
FIXTURES - Sunday: British Superbike Championship meeting, Mondello Park, 9.15am; Mayo & District MC, Autocross, Kilkelly, Mayo, noon; Clare MC, Autocross, Fountain, Ennis-Lahinch Road, noon.
