2007 British Superbike Motorcycle Racing

Race Results
Rizla Suzuki's Cal Crutchlow took a career-best fourth in the opening race at the 10th round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Croft after starting from his first ever pole position - marking another step forward in performance for him and the team.

He got off to a great start in the opening race and settled into a close third on the track, dicing for the lead the entire race.  On lap 17 he was relegated to fourth and despite his best efforts had to settle for the position - less than two seconds behind the winner at the checkered flag.

In the second race, 'Cal' was battling for the podium in fourth when he ran on to the grass and crashed. He gamely remounted and finished 13th, scoring valuable points.

Chris 'Stalker' Walker started ninth and finished eighth in the opening race, showing an impressive turn of speed as the race progressed.  In the second race he crashed while passing Honda's Karl Harris on the slow hairpin before remounting and finishing 10th.

Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari won both races at the North Yorkshire track.

Rizla Suzuki returns to race action at the bumper Bank Holiday Monday 11th round of the series at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire on 27th August.

Cal Crutchlow:  "I might have crashed in the second race but there's no stopping me smiling. The fact is I have recorded my first ever pole position and finished fourth, my highest ever placing in a Championship race.  I've taken another step closer to the podium I think the whole Rizla Suzuki team deserves.

"In the opening race I thoroughly enjoyed riding at the front and while being pipped to the podium was a bit disappointing, I think I proved the Rizla Suzuki and I are capable of challenging at the sharp end.  I proved it again in the second race before a false neutral put me on the grass and I crashed out of fourth - but at least I was able to remount and salvage a few points. It's been a good day's work and there are lots of positives for us to take to Cadwell Park in a fortnight's time."

Chris Walker:  "It's been a long time since I last raced at Croft so it took me a little longer to get up to speed this weekend than normal.  On Saturday afternoon we made big improvements in the bike set-up but it just didn't give us enough time to catch up with everyone else, so an eighth and then 10th after crashing and remounting was as good as we could get.

"I think Cal's performance this weekend shows the team's potential and I'm very confident for the last three rounds of the Championship at Cadwell, Donington and Brands Hatch as they are all circuits I like and think will suit the Rizla Suzuki. Bring it on."

Race One Results:
1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 26:51.398
2: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +1.301
3: Tom Sykes (Honda) +1.488
4: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +1.758
5: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +2.124
6: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +7.165
7: Leon Camier (Honda) +12.752
8: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki +18.487
9: Shane Byrne (Honda) +18.744
10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +24.845

Race Two Results:
1: Kiyonari 26:51.188
2: Rea +1.763
3: Sykes +2.157
4: Lavilla +2.583
5: Camier +4.305
6: Haslam +4.628
7: Byrne +8.964
8: Michael Rutter (Kawasaki) +35.969
9: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +39.549
10: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +39.600
13: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +58.283

Championship Positions (after 10 of 13 rounds):
1: Kiyonari 348
2: Rea 322
3: Haslam 288
4: Lavilla 269
5: Byrne 244
6: Sykes 203
7: Camier 199
8: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) 165
9: Hill 116
10: Harris 107
11: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) 101

Qualifying
Rizla Suzuki's Cal Crutchlow blitzed his first ever front row starting position by taking pole position for tomorrow's 10th round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Croft in North Yorkshire - the team's first pole since Brands Hatch in October 2005 with James Haydon.

The Superbike rookie puts the success largely down to an inspired plan for the qualification session hatched by his Chief Technician Pete Jennings, who insisted he use one pre-qualifying and two qualifying tires.

After three superb practice sessions - when he found a competitive race setting and tire - he rode with confidence and ability to deservedly head the field in qualification.

Chris 'Stalker' Walker left his fastest lap right until the end of qualifying and will start from the front of the third row in ninth.

Cal Crutchlow:  “Before the session I had a discussion with Pete about what tires I should use during qualification.  I wasn't sure about his idea for one pre-qualifier and two qualifiers but I agreed it with him and I have to say it worked a treat - my first ever front row is a pole position and you can't ask for any more than that.  Well done to the whole Rizla Suzuki team and Dunlop - the hard work is starting to pay off.

“Pole position puts a lot of pressure on me for the races but this is what we have been working for all year.  I'm hoping I can score a podium for Rizla Suzuki, the team deserves it and that's my target.”

Chris Walker:  “It's been a tough weekend as we have worked to find a comfortable set-up for me at this circuit.  On the first day we went too soft on my Rizla Suzuki and this morning we put that right and made pretty big strides this afternoon.

“Ninth is ok and I'll be going for a trade-mark good start and see what we can achieve if I can get away with the front runners.  Congratulations to Cal on his pole position.  It was an awesome ride.”

Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager:  “Congratulations to Cal Crutchlow and the Rizla Suzuki team on achieving pole position - it is something they have worked incredibly hard for and richly deserve it.  Cal has not changed a setting on his Rizla Suzuki all weekend and has concentrated on making the most of the package and has reaped the rewards of a very fast motorcycle, professional preparation and his own undoubted talent.

“Racing is different from qualifying and although there is a lot of pressure on Cal for a good result tomorrow; it will not be coming from the team.  We have already had a good weekend and if he converts to strong results, that'll be the icing on the cake.

“Chris and his crew have applied themselves tirelessly to find a competitive set-up for him and at the end of the qualifying session made a break-through.  If he can get a good start then he should be targeting the top six.”

2007 British Superbike - Round 10 - Croft

1: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) 1:19.108
2: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +0.083
3: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.101
4: Tom Sykes (Honda) +0.161
5: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +0.265
6: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +0.348
7: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.354
8: Leon Camier (Honda) +0.481
9: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +0.812
10: Karl Harris (Honda) +1.149

Race Preview
After fighting at the front of the pack at Mallory Park three weeks ago, Rizla Suzuki's Chris 'Stalker' Walker and Cal Crutchlow are planning for a repeat performance at this weekend's 10th round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Croft in North Yorkshire.

Stalker finished with a fourth and sixth last time out and is upbeat about what he can achieve this weekend - now as a happily married man.

He said: "I was married to Rachael just over a week ago and everything in my life is really good.  It was a great wedding and it came after a strong showing at Mallory Park when we made steps forward with the Rizla Suzuki - I think that sets us up for the rest of the season; there is a positive momentum that we all want to maintain.

"At the official Croft test last month I suffered a crash.  That won't have any effect on my performance this weekend because I think the bike is now better and my riding has improved since then.  I want to be competing for the podium again and think we have the package to do it."

Crutchlow equaled his best ever British Superbike finish with fifth and also posted the second fastest lap of the entire race at Mallory Park on his Rizla Suzuki Superbike.  He said: "There's no doubt the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 is getting better every time I ride it and a lot of credit must go to the team and my crew chief Pete Jennings for all their hard work.

"I've also learnt a lot this season and it's all coming together for me and making sense.  I desperately want to achieve a podium in my first season and may well have done that at Mallory Park if the second race hadn't been red flagged.  As it stands Croft is my next chance and I'll be giving it my all."

Superbike racing starts at 1320 at the 2.13-mile long flat but twisty circuit near Darlington in North Yorkshire on Sunday, August 12th.

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