Rutter and Byrne lead the way as Hislop ups the stakes

Michael Rutter and Shane Byrne both claimed victories in a dramatic ninth round of the British Superbike Championship at Thruxton yesterday. Yet Steve Hislop, second best in each race, left the Hampshire circuit with an increased lead over the field in the title chase.

Renegade Ducati rider Rutter, who had earlier shattered the lap record to claim his second consecutive pole, made the perfect start but was running second to reigning champion John Reynolds when rain forced the opening race to be stopped on the fifth lap.

Hislop, a third row starter, was up to fifth and on the re-start was the quickest as he led on the road and also on aggregate time.

But behind the MonsterMob Ducati rider the challenge was increasing with Rutter following close behind.

There were inches between them in the final stages but, in the two-part race, it was Rutter who was second on the road to Hislop but who took the victory on the basis of aggregate time by 0.216sec.

Third place went to the new Virgin Mobile Aiwa Yamaha rider Sean Emmett, who had split from the IFC Ducati team earlier in the week as they withdrew from this round amid delayed sponsorship.

Rutter made the running in the second race, but was sidelined at half distance by machine problems.

Reynolds, fourth in the opener, suffered a similar fate on his Rizla Suzuki, while Hislop looked to be taking charge and heading for his sixth victory of the season.Byrne charged into the lead as they emerged from the tight right and left combination and won the dash to the line by 0.043sec.

Hislop had extended his lead by eight points to put him 19 ahead of Emmett, who took third place in each of the races.