Michael Rutter is hoping to kick start his BSB championship challenge this weekend at Snetterton as the riders take on the circuit's new '300' configuration.
The 39 year old endured his worst weekend of the season at Knockhill last time out, retiring from race one with a suspension problem before salvaging some points with ninth in race two. This has left him 15 points away from the top six championship positions as the season approaches the halfway stage.
Rutter tested at the Norfolk track in pre-season where a new one-mile infield section has been added in the first sector of the lap, presenting the riders with a brand-new challenge. Rutter is expecting a few surprises but is confident the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati squad will be up to the task.
“In the past Snetterton has been a track where we have had reasonable results and I think the new infield section will definitely bring a new challenge for the team as set up for the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati is going to be critical. I think we are all going there with an element of the unknown, although we have tested there once before. I am pretty sure there will be some surprises but we need to be inside the top six in the standings so hopefully we can turn our season around at Snetterton.”
Teammate Martin Jessopp is excited ahead of this weekend's action and believes the new layout will provide him with an opportunity to move closer to the frontrunners.
“A new track means everyone is level again and we have to just work out how to make the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati work on the new section of the track on the slower corners. We have been working hard though over the past few rounds with the data we have to make improvements and also try to find some more rear grip towards the end of the race and hopefully we can move forward with that this weekend.”
Jessopp lies 18th in the championship but has been a consistent points scorer on board the Ducati 1198R. This weekend gives him the chance to add to his two top-ten finishes so far this year.
