CRUTCHLOW ON FORM AT THRUXTON
 Rizla
Suzuki young-gun Cal Crutchlow showed his natural speed and
ability to finish seventh in the opening race at the second
round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Thruxton
in Hampshire.
Starting from ninth on the grid, he made a slow start, but
as the race developed he got faster and faster, closing in
on the riders in front. In the second race, in front of Rizla
Suzuki's home fans, he was battling for eighth place when
he crashed unhurt at the final Club Chicane on the penultimate
lap.
Team mate Chris Walker took ninth place in the first race,
struggling for rear end grip on his GSX-R1000. For the second
race, his crew made changes to his set-up and he was battling
within the top six when he was forced to retire on the fourth
lap.
In glorious sunshine and in front of a bumper crowd, Ducati's
Gregorio Lavilla won both races.
Rizla Suzuki is next on track on Friday April 20th, testing
at Oulton Park in Cheshire. It then returns to British Superbike
race action at the third round of the series at Silverstone
in Northamptonshire, on Sunday April 29th.
Cal Crutchlow:
"I felt as though I was able to compete in the first
race, which was great. I had a good tyre, strong set-up and
if I had been able to force my way past Tommy Hill earlier,
I think I might have been able to challenge for the top six.
"The plan was to get a better start for the second race
and get up with the front runners. An average start didn't
help and I crashed out on the penultimate lap when my bike
grounded out on the kerbing - but I'm ok. I'm getting to know
my GSX-R1000 and team better with every outing and feel I
am making quick progress: top six results will not be long
coming."
Chris Walker:
"Not my best day at the races but once again I gave
it my all. In the opening race I was on my spare bike and
it wasn't handling exactly how I would have liked, so ninth
was a fair result. For the second race my Rizla Suzuki was
much better and I was in the top six before retiring with
a technical issue.
"My team and I are working our hearts out to get to
the front of the pack and there is not a more determined crew
in the Championship. We are testing before Silverstone and
that will help us for those races - it's also a track I know
well from racing there in World Superbikes so I'm hoping for
much improved results."
Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager:
"It's plain for everyone to see that Chris, Cal and
the Rizla Suzuki team are trying hard and doing their best
to race at the sharp end of the Championship. It didn't go
to plan for the team at Thruxton in two incredibly hard-fought,
tough races, but we will have better days than this, that's
for sure.
"Clearly the team has work to do to be competitive but
I'm confident we have the right riders, race bikes, staff
and determination to make the steps forward required. The
positives from today are that Cal is starting to show his
potential and Chris leaves here hungrier than ever to fight
for the podium. It's good news the team is testing before
the next round; I'm sure we will be much more competitive
at Silverstone."
Race One Results: 1: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati)
27:52.872, 2: Leon Camier (Honda) +3.526, 3: Ryuichi Kiyonari
(Honda) +6.833, 4: Shane Byrne (Honda) +7.136, 5: Tom Sykes
(Honda) +12.799, 6: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +16.093, 7: Cal Crutchlow
(Rizla Suzuki) +18.564, 8: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +19.559, 9:
Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +21.443, 10: Karl Harris (Honda)
+26.764.
Race Two Results: 1: Lavilla 29:01.593,
2: Kiyonari +0.113, 3: Byrne +0.249, 4: Rea + 0.492, 5: Camier
+ 1.364, 6: Haslam +8.820, 7: Sykes +10.367, 8: Michael Rutter
(Kawasaki) +11.078, 9: Harris +13.484, 10: Hill +15.609. DNF:
Crutchlow and Walker.
Championship Positions (after two of 13 rounds):
1: Lavilla 100, 2: Camier 67, 3: Rea 49, 4: Kiyonari 49, 5:
Byrne 45, 6: Haslam 43, 7: Sykes 40, 8: Rutter 28, 9: Chris
Walker (Rizla Suzuki) 26, 10: Harris 25. 13: Cal Crutchlow
(Rizla Suzuki) 12.
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