SYKES TAKES 2ND ROW START
 Tom
Sykes will head the second row of the grid from fifth place
after his bid for pole position was foiled by heavy rain mid-way
through the qualifying session for the fifth round of the
Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Snetterton in Norfolk.
The 23-year-old Lancashire ace had been consistently at the
top of the time sheets throughout all three dry practices
and was building up his pace during the 50-minute session
when the rain fell and scuppered any chance of improving with
30-minutes remaining. His lap-times in the dry mark him out
as a potential race winner tomorrow.
Rizla Suzuki team mate Atsushi Watanabe, on his first visit
to the 1.952-mile airfield track, qualified 12th after taking
more than three seconds off his lap times from the first practice
session. The reigning Japanese Superbike Champion is learning
fast and was sure he could have achieved a second row start
if the session had stayed dry.
Ducati's Shane Byrne took pole position.
Tom Sykes:
"It's hard not to be disappointed in fifth place after
being in the top two in the previous sessions, but the truth
is we are in much better shape than the qualifying result.
We didn't go banzai at the start of qualifying because we
wanted to put together a tyre test and that shows that I can
run mid 1min 5secs laps right at the end of the race - that
puts us in contention.
"My practice starts have been good and if I can replicate
that tomorrow I'll be right at the sharp end from the first
corner. I don't think anyone will be able to break away and
I am confident for the race - my Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 is
spot on and my team has done a fantastic job all weekend and
deserve a sup of champagne."
Atsushi Watanabe:
"We have made much progress every session and I go faster
and faster. In qualifying I think top eight and second row
is possible and then rain falls and ruins my chances. This
means I must wait to tomorrow before challenging for top eight.
Well done to my team for such good support. Snetterton is
a scary track to learn in just 2.5-hours with very fast speed
at end of straight. To be close to the top lap times is big
achievement and I hope I can continue my improvement in races."
Jack Valentine - Team Manager:
"We should be higher up the grid with Tom and Atsu,
I think both have more pace than their qualifying positions
suggest, but when it rains mid-way through a session there's
not much anyone can do about it. Tom naturally builds his
speed and was on a race run when it rained, while Atsu has
been improving almost every lap and the rain couldn't have
come at a worse time.
"But Rizla Suzuki is very upbeat. On race rubber Tom
is grease lightning quick and on the same pace as the front
row, if not faster, so we expect a podium or better from him.
As for Atsu, he's determined, improving and getting faster;
the top 10 is his target and I think he has the bike and ability
to achieve it.
"You can feel the momentum building with the team and
despite a slightly disappointing qualification, there is no
doubt Rizla Suzuki has the ability to challenge for wins tomorrow.
We can't wait for the racing."
Qualifying Results
1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 1:05.162
2: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +0.099
3: Leon Camier (Ducati) +0.258
4: Leon Haslam (Honda) +0.335
5: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.378
6: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +0.743
7: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +0.779
8: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +0.845
9: Billy McConnell (Kawasaki) +0.920
10: James Ellison (Honda) +0.951
12: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +1.404
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