Rutter fails to meet his goals (From Stourbridge News)

Rutter fails to meet his goals

9:00am Thursday 27th September 2012 in Sport

MICHAEL Rutter didn’t achieve his minimum aim for MCE Insurance British Superbike round 10 at Assen but that isn’t dampening his spirits with round 11 almost upon him.

Rutter stated before travelling to the Netherlands that top-10 finishes were the absolute least he wanted to return with — but was a some way off his target.

The MSS Bathams Kawasaki rider qualified in 18th as the BSB paddock competed at Assen for the first time, before recording finishes of 17th and 19th from races one and two respectively.

Rutter won’t have much time to dwell on his results with the next round at Silverstone this weekend — and he wouldn’t want it any other way.

He said: “It’s a manic end to the season but it’s fun for all the riders to go from one race to the next so quickly.

“As a team we’ve learnt a lot this year and we want to be in a position where we can push for the top 10 in all those last races.

“That’s an absolute minimum we want to be achieving but we’ve struggled at times this year and we are having to see how it goes.

“I think everyone will carry their Assen form into Silverstone because when you get two races so close together — momentum is really important.

“I’d be lying if I said this season hasn’t been disappointing at times but what’s done is done and I want to end the season as strongly as possible.”

Shane Byrne and Josh Brookes took the race wins at Assen — both riders in the Showdown, a play-off style battle for the title involving the top-six that began in the Netherlands.

However, Rutter heads to Silverstone with fond memories of his win at the same circuit back in 2010 — although he knows a fair few things have changed since then.

He added: “Silverstone is one place I think everyone likes just because it’s a historic place and a name that everybody knows.

“I won there in 2010, though that was on the old circuit, so I have special memories. If I’m honest I preferred it before they changed the circuit around but it’s still going to be a fantastic weekend.

“A top-six finish or two would be great but realistically with the Showdown going on that’s going to be tough.”

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