WALKER 6TH ON KNOCKHILL GRID
 Rizla
Suzuki's Chris Walker recorded a storming early lap time to
secure sixth place on the grid for tomorrow's seventh round
of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill
in Scotland as rain closed in and robbed the circuit of grip.
The 50-minute-long session started dry with moisture in the
air and the riders went out on full slicks. 'Stalker' was
immediately on the pace and it stood him in good stead after
nine minutes when the rain started to fall making it impossible
to improve lap times. He and defending Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari
tied on the fifth fastest lap time but the Rizla Suzuki racer
was relegated to sixth on quickest lap count-back.
Crutchlow made a steady start to qualifying missing his chance
to put in a competitive lap time while the track was dry,
leaving him an uncharacteristic 11th on the grid. The session
was declared wet and he went out with four minutes remaining
to speed-test his rain settings.
Honda's Jonathan Rea took pole position.
Chris Walker:
"I started the session on a race tyre and it is just
as well I got up to speed quickly because I had only completed
a handful of laps when the drizzle started and put an end
to fast times.
"I'm enjoying myself this weekend and my crew is making
positive changes to my Rizla Suzuki. Everything has been going
in the right direction and in the dry we can be competitive.
I think I have a good rain set-up after plenty of wet track
time at the last round at Mondello Park."
Cal Crutchlow:
"I had been running in the top seven until qualifying
and then was caught out by the rain coming on early in the
session. If it's dry then I want to be up challenging in the
top seven and think that is realistic.
"If it is wet, which is more than likely, then I am
confident in my Rizla Suzuki and think I can challenge well
up the field. Knockhill is a favourite circuit of mine and
in the rain it'll be the smoothest riders that benefit and
that will suit me."
Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager:
"Chris did a good professional job by going out at the
start of the session and posting a quick lap time - that is
his years of experience coming to the fore. Cal on the other
hand did not post a quick time early on - that's another lesson
learnt for him in his first year in Superbikes.
"Chances are it will be wet tomorrow and that will level
the playing field for everyone and I think play to Rizla Suzuki's
strengths as Chris and Cal have good rain settings. If it's
dry we will be going for top six with both riders."
Qualification Times:
1: Jonathan Rea (Honda) 48.345
2: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.320
3: Tom Sykes (Honda) +0.494
4: Leon Camier (Honda) +0.796
5: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.895
6: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +0.895
7: Karl Harris (Honda) +1.183
8: Shane Byrne (Honda) +1.194
9: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +1.283
10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +1.375
11: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +1.429.
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