RIZLA SUZUKIS ON BSB 2ND ROW
Rizla
Suzuki's Chris Walker will start from fifth and Cal Crutchlow
from eighth to bookend the second row of the grid in tomorrow's
third round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship
at Silverstone in Northamptonshire.
'Stalker' was in contention for a front row position for
much of the session and only missed out by just over a 10th
of a second right at the end. Crutchlow saved his best lap
until last to join his team mate on the same row of the grid.
In blustery wind and glorious sunshine, both Rizla Suzuki
racers made big strides forward with the set-ups on their
GSX-R1000s.
Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari took pole position.
Chris Walker:
"The effort it takes to ride a Superbike on the limit
is incredible. I gave it my all in qualifying and earned my
second row start.
"My Rizla Suzuki feels hard at the front and soft at
the rear. It's a situation we are working on but it isn't
easy to sort because if we soften the front, it hampers our
braking performance. Overall the package isn't bad though
- it's certainly close to the pace and we'll be working to
make it better in warm-up in the morning."
Cal Crutchlow:
"My Rizla Suzuki is absolutely mint when I am riding
it on a qualifying tyre - the extra grip gives me so much
confidence. On race tyres it moves around a little but it
is now becoming more predictable and I enjoy riding it.
"We still have a decision to make on which tyre we will
use in the races. I will be aiming for a good start and to
hang on to the riders in front of me; my target is the top
six."
Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager:
"I think Chris was a little unlucky to have been pushed
off the front row right at the end of the session; but that
actually might play to our favour for the races as he is now
starting behind pole position and on the best part of the
track for attacking the first corner.
"Cal did a terrific job to get on the second row and
has lifted his game as the weekend has progressed. If he can
get into the top six from the start then he'll start fighting
with the other riders and that'll bring the best out of him.
"The Rizla Suzuki team has worked hard this weekend
and will do what it takes to get back to the front where it
belongs. We are all pulling together and working well as a
team and that means the results will not be far away."
BSB Qualifying Times:
1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 1:25.383
2: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.023
3: Shane Byrne (Honda) +0.233
4: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +0.305
5: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +0.433
6: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +0.649
7: Leon Camier (Honda) +0.756
8: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +0.835
9: Tom Sykes (Honda) +0.901
10: Michael Rutter (Kawasaki) +0.940
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