Michael Rutter left Snetterton with two fourth places from three races but was robbed of a possible win when his gear lever snapped while he was leading Sunday’s first race.Rutter was in great form all weekend on the ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati. His strong fourth place finish on Saturday was just a taste of what was to come in Sunday’s races.In the first one, starting from sixth on the grid, he made a brilliant start and was second into the first corner but led the field across the line at the end of the lap.At half-race distance he was still in front and over a second clear of his closest rival Josh Brookes but his race came to an abrupt end just two laps later when the gear lever snapped, leaving him stuck in sixth gear.Rutter said: “It’s gutting when something like that happens but that’s racing and you have to take it on the chin. It’s hard to lead a race like that. I saw plus zero on my board and started to ride defensive and then once I’d got the gap, I could  back to normal racing lines – the fastest way around the course – and then the gap opened up again.”Rutter was again in the mix in the third race of the triple-header weekend and finished fourth again to remain fifth in the championship. “I tried my best but didn’t quite make the podium," he said. “I’m really pleased how well we’ve gone here because we thought we might just lack a bit on top end down the straights here a lot more than we did. My bike is the best through the corners but the four-cylinder bikes do just have the edge down the long straights here. It’s been another good weekend and I’m looking forward to Brands Hatch now.”Team owner Phil Jessopp added: “Michael rode well again. It’s a real shame about the second race – it messed up our weekend really but as Michael said, we’re looking forward to Brands Hatch now which should really suit our bike.”