2007 British Superbike Motorcycle Racing

Race Results
Honda's Jonathan Rea took both races today in the wet at Scotland's Knockhill circuit for Round 7 of the British Superbike Championship, while Chris Walker finished in the top six both times.

"Stalker", starting from sixth on the grid, used all his experience to master the treacherously-wet conditions to finish a clear fifth in the opening race that was shortened by six laps.  In the second water-logged event, shortened from 30 to 26 laps, he was relegated to sixth on the last lap and didn't have time to regain the place he had held for most of the race.

Cal Crutchlow had a tough weekend: In the opening race his visor fogged in the damp weather - reducing visibility - and he finished 11th.  In the second race he was lying in 12th when he crashed out on the high-speed run to the hairpin at the 1.29-mile long track; fortunately unhurt.

Rizla Suzuki will attend the official BSB test at Croft in North Yorkshire on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 2nd-3rd, before returning to racing at Oulton Park on Sunday, July 15th.

Chris Walker:  “It's been a solid day but I must confess I am smashed to have lost out on fifth place in the second race.  I rode as hard as I could in the conditions and to lose a place on the last lap is simply gutting.

“There was a lot of standing water on the circuit and it was very tricky but my Rizla Suzuki was doing what I wanted and I was comfortable riding it.  I am still not quite used to the amount of grip the Dunlop tires give in wet conditions, but with today's experience under my belt if it rains again I'll be wiser and faster.”

Cal Crutchlow:  “An 11th and DNF are not the results I wanted or that Rizla Suzuki deserves.  In the opening race my visor misted and despite having top 10 pace I couldn't see and had to slow down. Race two was wetter and I felt as though I had very little grip - I was proved right when I crashed.

“It's been a frustrating weekend but I'll sit down with the team, analyze the areas where we can improve and will come back stronger, faster and more determined than ever to get into the top six.”

Race One Result: 1: Jonathan Rea (Honda) 21:28.015, 2: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +6.848, 3: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +8.851, 4: Shane Byrne (Honda) +13.782, 5: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +20.317, 6: Tom Sykes (Honda) +21.994, 7: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +28.222, 8: Ollie Bridewell (Suzuki) +42.951, 9: Sean Emmett (Suzuki) +43.552, 10: Karl Harris (Honda) +46.707, 11: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +51.530.

Race Two Result: 1: Rea 22.56.710, 2: Haslam +5.858, 3: Kiyonari +9.453, 4: Sykes +9.508, 5: Byrne +14.306, 6: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +15.171, 7: Leon Camier (Honda) +26.730, 8: Harris +34.846, 9: Emmett +49.449, 10: O Bridewell +53.371. DNF: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki).

Championship Positions (after 7 of 13 rounds): 1: Kiyonari 248, 2: Rea 237, 3: Lavilla 220, 4: Haslam 205, 5: Byrne 151, 6: Camier 145, 7: Sykes 138, 8: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) 104, 9: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 86, 10: Harris 79, 11: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) 56.

Race Preview
June 29, 2007 -  Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari was fastest in today's practice, while Rizla Suzuki racer Chris Walker was eighth and his team mate Cal Crutchlow ninth - both within one second of the leader - after today's practice sessions for the seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland.

In dry but overcast conditions, "Stalker" spent time tire testing and trying both his Rizla Suzuki race bikes around the 1.29-mile long twisty and hilly circuit.  He ended the day comfortable on his bike and in confident mood.

Crutchlow made large scale changes in the set-up of his bike in-between the two 50-minute long sessions.  He left his fastest lap until the end of the day on a tire that had completed a race distance simulation and is happy with his Rizla Suzuki.

Superbike racing starts at 1300 at Knockhill in Fife, Scotland, on Sunday, July 1st.

Chris Walker:  "I compared both my Rizla Suzukis during practice and one of them is easier to ride quickly around here. It is giving me decent feedback and I am comfortable riding it.

"I tested a couple of different tires and made a bit of headway.  We didn't make many changes but the ones we did made a difference and helped improve the lap time.  Thank you to my crew and Dunlop for their support: I think it has been a positive day for us."

Cal Crutchlow:  "We experimented with some new settings this morning but while they allowed me to ride quickly, I wasn't that comfortable and in the afternoon we reverted to a set-up that we established earlier in the season.

"I ran a race distance tire test in the afternoon and made very few alterations to my bike.  My main problem is the forks bottoming out on the entrance to the hairpin - there is a massive bump that is very unsettling. My crew will make a few changes to help me through there tomorrow."

Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager:  "It's been a good solid day for both Rizla Suzuki racers. Chris has shown strong form right from his first out lap and Cal has tested a fair few settings, leaving him in a decent position just behind his team mate.

"The Rizla Suzuki riders are within touching distance of the leaders and optimistic they can improve.  Well done to the riders and the team for working so well - we are all looking forward to qualification.  I think it would be preferable if it was dry but if the weather forecast comes true and it is wet, I don't think that will make a huge difference; there is positive momentum within the team."

Friday Practice Times: 1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 48.334 2: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +0.211 3: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.252 4: Leon Camier (Honda) +0.391 5: Tom Sykes (Honda) +0.448 6: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +0.491 7: Shane Byrne (Honda) +0.508 8: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +0.882 9: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +0.969 10: Dean Thomas (Suzuki) +1.080.

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