SYKES ON KNOCKHILL BSB SECOND ROW
Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes mastered the wet and rainy conditions
at Knockhill to secure a strong seventh place start on the
second row of the grid for tomorrow's eighth round of the
Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
During free practice three which proceeds qualifying, Sykes
headed the time sheets as his team used data they had gathered
during the Brands Hatch World Superbike weekend to set up
his bike for the wet conditions. The rain continued for the
singular 50-minute qualifying session but stopped with 10-minutes
remaining. As he was preparing to go for his fastest lap at
the end of the session the track was drying but his wet set-up
didn't allow him to improve his time.
Atsushi Watanabe had a baptism of water on his debut at the
1.27-mile Scottish circuit and immediately had to adapt both
to the new track and the harsh weather conditions. He worked
on set-up for his Rizla Suzuki and steadily improved his lap
times, getting faster every time he left the pit box. He took
three seconds off his lap times between today's sessions and
will start from 16th on the fourth row of the grid.
Superbike race one is at 1300 and race two at 1530 tomorrow.
Tom Sykes:
"In the full wet conditions this morning we had plenty
of grip but this afternoon as the track dried out a little
we started to struggle. We are on the second row and at the
end of the day that's a good place to be. My Rizla Suzuki
team will work hard to give me the best bike possible for
tomorrow and I'm confident it will all come together."
Atsushi Watanabe:
"I like Knockhill but qualifying is difficult. I want
to be further forward - especially after my result at Suzuka.
My Rizla Suzuki feels good in moist conditions and I like
Knockhill so I will work hard in the race and hope for improving
result."
Jack Valentine - Rizla Suzuki Team Manager :
"Tom had the pace to challenge for the front row but
the drying track right at the end of the session confounded
his bike set-up and didn't give him the chance to achieve
that. By the time he came in, the session was nearly over
so he wasn't able to take his number two bike out to try and
improve his position. Second row isn't the end of the world
and I know Tom has been riding incredibly-well lately, I'm
confident in either the wet or the dry he can fight for the
podium.
"Atsu has done really well as he has had to learn a
new circuit in difficult conditions and has gone faster every
session. Knockhill isn't an easy track to learn as it is such
a short lap and there is nowhere to take a rest. I must say
I'm pleased with his progress and with a bit of luck he will
get into the top 10 tomorrow."
Qualifying results:
1: Leon Haslam (Honda) 52:692
2: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +0.274
3: Shane Byrne (Ducati) +0.282
4: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +0.311
5: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +0.485
6: Leon Camier (Ducati) +0.576
7: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.603
8: James Ellison (Honda) +0.895
9: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +1.076
10: Tristan Palmer (Honda) +1.184
16: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +2.126.
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