Rutter admits to uncertain future (From Halesowen News)
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Rutter admits to uncertain future
9:00am Thursday 13th September 2012 in Local Sport
Rutter (right) in action at Donington
MICHAEL Rutter admits his future in British Superbikes is firmly up in the air after enduring another depressing weekend.
Finishes of 14th and 22nd at Donington Park on Sunday hinted that the 40-year-old might be living on borrowed time at the top level.
Rewind to the opening round of the season and Rutter looked to have established himself as one of this year’s title contenders with a third-place finish in the season curtain-raiser.
However, that Brands Hatch display has proved to be a false dawn with Rutter not seen anywhere near the podium since.
He said: “Are there any lessons to take into the next race? Get a day job, I think.
“I don’t know what I’m doing next year yet so I’m focusing on the end of this season. “Obviously I want to end strongly but that doesn’t look too likely at the moment.
“I still love the racing I just don’t know whether I will be coming back for another year on the Superbike circuit yet.
“I need to find something to keep my motivation up — that would make it easier.”
Rutter’s search for motivation is hardly surprising given his conversion this season from title contender to championship also-ran.
The veteran finished the 2010 and 2011 seasons inside the top-eight but his two-point haul from the Leicestershire circuit leaves him 15th.
There are three more rounds to set the record straight, starting with the trip to Assen in Holland for round 10 in less than two weeks.
And Rutter admitted he’ll have to shake off his nightmare weekend at Donington.
He said: “I just suffered from a lack of grip from the first lap.
“I just went backwards, I don’t know what went wrong.”
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