British Superbike Round 13 - Brands Hatch Indy Circuit - October 14, 2007

Ryuichi Kiyonari Retains British Superbike Championship Title for 2007
Ryuichi Kiyonari went into the final round of the Bennetts British Superbike championship at the weekend knowing that a top four finish in one of the races would be enough for him to retain the title he won a year ago at the corresponding round of the 2006 season.

When the Japanese 25 year-old HM Plant Honda rider crossed the line third, behind second placed team-mate Jonathan Rea and winner Gregorio Lavilla (Airwaves Ducati), in the first race at Brands Hatch on Sunday it was enough for him clinch the title again, much to his obvious delight.

“I was very nervous.  For me it was difficult.  If you push too hard, you might crash, but if you do not push on, maybe you’ll lose concentration and crash,” explained the new double champion with a beaming smile.

“It was very important for me to win the title, now twice,” continued Kiyonari.  “I tried to ride normally after a good start to the race but could not relax at all.  My bike was good, tires good, and now, I am very, very happy.”

The second race saw Lavilla and Rea finish first and second again, while Kiyonari came home fourth behind Rizla Suzuki’s Cal Crutchlow.

The season therefore concluded with Kiyonari at the head of the standings with 433 points, ahead of runner-up Rea on 407.  Airwaves Ducati pair Leon Haslam and Lavilla were third and fourth respectively, Haslam with 387 points and his Spanish colleague with 368.

Race Results
Ducati's Gregorio Lavilla won both races today while HM Plant Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari won the British Superbike Championship with a race to spare at the final round at Brands Hatch Indy circuit today and team-mate Jonathan Rea finished runner up to achieve the team’s first championship 1-2.

Cal Crutchlow scored his first ever British Superbike Championship podium finish with third place in the very final race of the 2007 season at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in Kent today.

The Rizla Suzuki racer, starting from sixth on the grid, took fifth place in the opening race before raising his game for the 26th and final race of the year in the afternoon and coming home third to stand on the podium for the first time.

After a heavy crash in practice on Saturday, Chris Walker showed immense courage to take to the track with massive bruising and in considerable pain.  Heroically, from 11th on the grid, he finished in seventh and sixth places in front of the huge crowd that basked in glorious October sunshine.

"Stalker" finished seventh and Crutchlow ninth in the 2007 British Superbike Championship.

Rizla Suzuki is in action again next Sunday, October 21st, at the Race of the Year at Mallory Park in Leicestershire.  Crutchlow will be joined by Rizla Suzuki guest rider Jenny Tinmouth on the super-fast GSX-R1000 race bikes.

Cal Crutchlow:  "At the start of the season I would have settled for a learning year and a couple of top-six finishes but half-way through I had to have a rethink.  My Rizla Suzuki has been greased lightning and the podium was my target - and one that I hit this afternoon in the very last race of the season.  I cannot explain how happy I am.

"The truth is that the podium and my fantastic run of results are down to Rizla Suzuki and my team of technicians - thanks to all of my crew, the team sponsors and all the fans for their support.  I'll be raising a glass of champagne to you all this evening and hope to see you again next year."

Chris Walker:  "I am pleased with fifth and seventh today as my physical condition is less than ideal after my big crash yesterday.  Every time I ran into Paddock Hill bend the change in elevation and suspension felt as though I was being kicked in the stomach and I couldn't get my breath back for half a lap.  It's a shame because I am sure a completely fit Stalker could have fought at the sharp end today."

"Thank you to Rizla Suzuki, my crew and all the Stalker fans for their support this year on my return to British Superbikes. It has been a roller-coaster ride and a lot of fun and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself - thanks to everyone!"

Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager:  "Cal has been threatening to get on to the rostrum for the last four or five rounds and no one deserves it more than him; he and his crew have worked incredibly hard and deserve to be drinking champagne.  It has been a strong first year in Superbikes for Cal and he has been a pleasure to work with - I think there is no doubt he is a future champion.

"Chris has really impressed everyone with his gutsy performance and results.  He had to be lifted on and off his Rizla Suzuki race bike but still rode like the hungriest rider on the grid. It has been a challenging year for him re-learning the circuits, adapting to different tires and a new team and I am sure he will be stronger and quicker in the future.

"Thank you to all of the Rizla Suzuki team staff, sponsors and partners for all their support in 2007.  With the GSX-R1000 we have built a strong platform that both riders have proved can run at the front and with development over the winter I am confident it will be a title challenger next year.  Finally - and most importantly - thank you to all the Rizla Suzuki fans; it's your support that keeps us going."

2007 British Superbike Round 13 - Race One Results

1: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 23:35.208

2: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +2.499

3: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +3.390

4: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +3.450

5: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +3.673

6: Shane Byrne (Honda) +4.193

7: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +16.715

8: Michael Rutter (Kawasaki) +16.818

9: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +20.523

10: Steve Plater (Yamaha) +20.581

2007 British Superbike Round 13 - Race Two Results

1: Lavilla 15:22.873

2: Rea +2.182

3: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +2.486

4: Kiyonari +3.592

5: Haslam +3.809

6: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +9.724

7: Sykes +9.875

8: Karl Harris (Honda) +16.214

9: James Haydon (Kawasaki) +18.331

10: Rutter +18.396

2007 British Superbike - Final Championship Positions

1: Kiyonari 433

2: Rea 407

3: Haslam 387

4: Lavilla 368

5: Byrne 293

6: Sykes 279

7: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) 225

8: Leon Camier (Honda) 199

9: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) 152

10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 138

Qualifying
October 13, 2007 - Gregorio Lavilla powered in the fastest ever two-wheeled lap of the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit to claim pole start for the final round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship today.

Ryuichi Kiyonari, the reigning champion, will start tomorrow's race with a 37 point advantage over his teammate Jonathan Rea, while Leon Haslam, the double race winner of Donington Park, is third, a further four points down.

They were all upstaged by the stylish Spaniard who took the title two years ago, and who was intent on bettering his own record speed around the 1.1986 mile Kent circuit as the first part of what he intends to be a winning end to his campaign.

The Airwaves Ducati rider clocked a time of 45.190secs, 95.48mph some six tenths of a second inside his own record and he reflected: “After the ups and downs of this season I want to finish in style – the first thing was to take pole, then to win the races.

“The bike is feeling good, the tires are feeling good, the best for a long time and as these are the last races of the season, I like to finish with good results.”

Rizla Suzuki Team Report
Rizla Suzuki's Cal Crutchlow will start from sixth on the grid for tomorrow's final round of the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in Kent after showing fast podium potential on race tires during practice.

Crutchlow built his pace across three practice sessions before challenging for pole position in the 50 minutes of qualifying.  He eventually ended up sixth, only 2/10ths of a second behind pole position man Gregorio Lavilla on a Ducati.

Chris 'Stalker' Walker put on a heroic display of riding after suffering a heavy crash in the morning session that left him heavily battered and bruised.  He rode through the pain barrier to finish an incredible 11th.

Cal Crutchlow:  “I am really happy that I am just 2/10ths of a second off pole position but gutted that it is sixth place on the second row - it's very close at the front of the grid.

“On race tires I am able to run very fast lap times and more than ever I am capable of challenging for the podium.  It's my last chance to achieve a rostrum in my rookie year tomorrow and I'll be giving it my all.”

Chris Walker:  “I am feeling very beaten up after my morning crash.  I ran into Graham Hill bend and lost the back end of my Rizla Suzuki and hit the ground hard.  I took a while to come round but fortunately nothing is broken and I can ride."

“Qualification was tough, I had to grit my teeth a few times and sheer determination saw me through. I'm happy with 11th on the grid given my physical condition and will be looking for a good night's sleep and to rest as much as possible before the races.”

Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager:  “It's been a good strong performance from both Rizla Suzuki racers today.  Cal is bang on the money in race trim and I know how much he wants a podium so we are expecting great things tomorrow."

“Chris suffered a very quick crash this morning and is badly bruised and in quite a bit of pain.  The fact he took to the track in the afternoon is astounding and then to take 11th on the grid shows his determination and will to succeed.  He's already a hero for just riding again after such a crash and will be looking for strong results to finish his season tomorrow.”

2007 British Superbike Round 13 - Qualifying Times

1: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 45.190

2: Tom Sykes (Honda) +0.191

3: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +0.193

4: Shane Byrne (Honda) +0.194

5: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.195

6: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +0.260

7: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.294

8: Karl Harris (Honda) +0.374

9: James Haydon (Kawasaki) +0.780

10: Ian Hutchinson (Honda) +0.884

11: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +0.887

Race Preview
Rizla Suzuki racer Cal Crutchlow has a final chance to record a first and much sought after podium finish in his maiden Superbike season when the British Championship visits Brands Hatch in Kent for the 2008 finale this Sunday.

"I have been getting ever closer to the podium since August," explained Cal, 21, from Coventry.  "I am so close to tasting champagne that it is all that I think about; I want it and think it would be a fitting finish to my first Superbike season.

"My Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 is in excellent shape and has hardly altered for the last few rounds, we have hit upon a setting that works and that has given me great confidence.  Rizla Suzuki and my technical crew deserve a podium and I will be giving it my all to achieve it for them."

Chris 'Stalker' Walker cites Brands Hatch as one of his favorite tracks and after putting on an incredibly brave performance at the GP version of the circuit earlier this year, the 35-year-old Nottingham based rider is ready to return and challenge at the front.

Stalker said: "I cannot believe the season is coming to an end this weekend. I have scored a couple of podiums this year and want to finish with a flourish.  Brands Hatch is superb circuit which rewards bravery and skill so I am hoping it will be good to me."

"At the last round at Donington Park we found a good setting on my Rizla Suzuki and that's what we'll start with this weekend.  I would love to reward my team and the Stalker fans with some more champagne and one thing you can count upon is my total commitment, there will not be anyone riding harder than me on Sunday."

Rizla Suzuki Team Manager Simon Buckmaster is eager to finish the season on a high after recent promising performances.  He said: "Cal and Chris have worked hard all year developing the GSX-R1000 into what is a superb Superbike.  They deserve to be competing for the podium this weekend and the whole team will be doing all it can to help them."

Superbike racing starts at noon on the short and exciting 1.22-mile long Indy circuit which is as close to a stadium event you can get in racing.