VERWOOD-based Worx Crescent Suzuki’s stand-in racer Michael Rutter kept the flag flying with a fine brace of fifth places in Sunday’s British Superbike rounds at Thruxton.

He’s now gone off to the Isle of Man to race another Crescent Suzuki in the TT races, but while not committing himself to a decision for the rest of the season, Crescent chief Martyn James said: “Michael acquitted himself well.

“He hadn’t ridden the bike before Friday – in fact we had to build a new GSX-R1000 in three days flat too – and he obviously had to think about the TT, but the Thruxton results were good.”

Rutter, pictured, was called up just three days before the event after ace regular Sylvain Guintoli suffered a badly smashed leg on the sighting lap for the round at Donington Park on bank holiday Monday.

Guintoli’s Suzuki bike – and his then excellent title prospects – were written off by the impact from Bournemouth-based Josh Brookes’ HM Plant Honda that sent it flying 30ft.

Initially the crash was blamed on undefined brake failure.

But subsequently, after bike checks could identify no brake problems, Brookes was given a one-race ban suspended for three races for his riding.

After the races Rutter said: “What a wonderful bike! As a first experience of the GSX-R I’m really impressed.

“Looking at the day, I could definitely have done with more time to refine the set-up – the morning set-up in warm-up didn’t work quite as we hoped so we rode with what we had on Saturday, which wasn’t quite perfect.

“I could have ridden better too – smoother would have been faster – but I have to be happy for I know I can improve. It’s been a great weekend in so many ways.”

Team manager Jack Valentine said: “We’ve had a very good weekend. We came here only three days after the disaster of Donington and started with a new rider who’d never ridden the bike before.

“There was so little time to sort bike and rider that in all fairness Michael did a very good job.”