British Superbike Round 1 - Brands Hatch

Race Results
Gregorio Lavilla took the double win at the opening round of the 2007 British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch on April 9.

Rizla Suzuki's Chris Walker, who returned to British Superbike for the first time in 6 long years, won the applause of the large Bank Holiday Monday crowd at the opening round with his all-action riding style and fighting spirit.

Starting from fifth on the grid, Walker shot to second by the first corner in both races. In the opener he held third right until the final two laps and eventually ended fifth.  In the second pace-car interrupted race he was second for the first eight laps before dropping back, finishing eighth.  In both cases from the mid-point onwards, he suffered from a lack of rear grip.

Rizla Suzuki's Cal Crutchlow also struggled for grip during both races despite showing early on he could run with the top riders. He finished bravely with 13th and 18th places on his debut in the British Superbike Championship.

Ducati's Gregorio Lavilla won both races, held in glorious warm sunshine.

The second round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship will be held at Rizla Suzuki's home circuit of Thruxton in Hampshire next weekend, with race day on Sunday, April 9th.

Chris Walker:  "It's been a frustrating day as we certainly had the pace to run at the front and compete for the podium. At the half-way point of both races my bike lost rear grip - it was like a switch was flicked and there was nothing I could do about it.  Tire choice wasn't easy this weekend so we'll be working hard with Dunlop to ensure we get it right at the next round.

"Two top-10 finishes give me a solid start to the season and I am absolutely delighted to be back riding in front of the British crowd again; it's the best ever motivation. Thanks to all the 'Stalker' fans and I hope you enjoyed the racing!"

Race One Results: 1: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 28:56.903, 2: Leon Camier (Honda) +1.701, 3: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +4.576, 4: Shane Byrne (Honda) +5.699, 5: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +6.357, 6: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +14.868, 7: Tom Sykes (Honda) +20.794, 8: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +21.760, 9: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +26.591, 10: Michael Rutter (Kawasaki) +30.829. 13: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +38.212.

Race Two Results: 1: Lavilla 31:09.132, 2: Rea +1.308, 3: Camier +2.103, 4: Haslam +3.834, 5: Sykes +10.456, 6: Karl Harris (Honda) +10.465, 7: Rutter +11.154, 8: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +11.261, 9: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +11.676, 10: Dean Thomas (Suzuki) +12.317. 18: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +21.563.

Championship Positions (after one of 13 rounds) 1: Lavilla 50, 2: Camier 36, 3: Rea 36, 4: Haslam 23, 5: Sykes 20, 6: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) 19, 7: Byrne 16, 8: Rutter 15, 9: Kiyonari 13, 10: Andrews 12. 16: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) 3.

Race Preview
After a six year absence, Chris Walker returns to British Superbike action in the opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch this Bank Holiday Monday riding an all-new Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 and determined to establish himself as a title contender from the outset.

A four-time runner up in the series, fans' favorite "Stalker" has spent the last half dozen years battling in the Grand Prix and World Superbike Championships.  The 35 year old returns to British Superbikes with the Suzuki team he finished runner-up with in 2000 and is eager to go one better this year.

Reigning British Supersport Champion Cal Crutchlow lines up for his first ever British Superbike race on his Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 at Brands Hatch.  The 21 year old is one of the hottest young talents in British racing and is ready to seize his opportunity to show what he can do in the most competitive National Superbike Championship in the world.

Both Stalker and Cal have enjoyed a successful pre-season developing the new Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 into a Superbike racer. Using the challenging 2.60-mile long GP circuit at the historic Brands Hatch venue in Kent, Superbike racing starts at 1230 on Monday April 9th...

Chris Walker:  "The talking and testing stop here - it's time to race and I am very excited about the opening round at Brands Hatch.  It's been six years away for me and I am looking forward to racing full-time in front of the British fans again - they are the best in the world.

"Our pre-season testing has been good and Rizla Suzuki has thrown the kitchen sink at getting the new GSX-R1000 ready in time for the opening round.  I have unfinished business with this Championship and after collecting runner-up spot four times in a row, I really want to make the break to the top step of the podium.  Realistically that means I need to be on the pace right from the opening race; so I'll be giving it my all at Brands."

Cal Crutchlow:  "I've always dreamed of being a Superbike racer and now it is coming true and I will be making my British Championship debut at Brands Hatch.  Testing with Rizla Suzuki has been good and at all the circuits I have been close on the timesheets to my team mate and the other title contenders which has boosted my confidence.

"I don't know what to expect this weekend but I'll be bringing all of the determination, skill and application to the races that I used to win the British Supersport Championship in 2006.  This is my chance to make my mark in motorcycle racing and I'm not about to let it slip by."

Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager:  "Rizla Suzuki, Chris Walker and Cal Crutchlow are in excellent shape and ready to race.  Our test program has been positive and we have improved the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 every step of the way.  We are hopeful that we can continue our forward momentum and convert it into good results at Brands Hatch this Monday.

"It's been hard work developing the all-new GSX-R1000 into a racer capable of winning in such a short period of time but we think we are close.  It's going to be an exciting weekend of racing and I'm hoping the fans will turn out in force to cheer Chris, Cal and the Rizla Suzuki team on. See you all at the races."

Qualifying Results British Superbike Round 1 - Brands Hatch

1: Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1:25.235

2: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +0.242

3: Leon Camier (Honda) +0.504

4: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.578

5: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +0.597

6: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +0.764

7: Shane Byrne (Honda) +0.988

8: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +1.043

9: Tom Sykes (Honda) +1.064

10: Dean Thomas (Suzuki) +1.260