2007 British Superbike - Mondello Park

Race Results
Rizla Suzuki racer Cal Crutchlow crashed out on the final lap of the second race while competing for a career best sixth place in today's sixth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the Republic of Ireland.

In the opening race Cal dropped from fifth on the grid to 11th on lap two, before coming through to finish eighth.

In the second event he got away in fourth and spent the whole race battling for the top six in his strongest showing in the Superbike class to date.

On the last lap he crashed out unhurt while in seventh and challenging for sixth.

Chris Walker rode his first ever dry laps of the Mondello Park circuit in morning warm-up after two days of pouring rain. Both races were in the dry so it was a steep learning curve for the popular Nottingham rider and in race one despite a strong start he faded towards the end to finish ninth.

In the second race "Stalker" was 11th and had just recorded his fastest lap when he ran off track and suffered a slow-speed fall, getting up and walking away uninjured but bitterly disappointed.

Ducati's Leon Haslam won the opening race and Honda's Jonathan Rea the second. Rizla Suzuki returns to race action at Knockhill, near Edinburgh in Scotland, at the seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on Sunday, July 1st.

Cal Crutchlow: "It's been a hard day for me and the Rizla Suzuki team. In the first race I was consistent and fast but a poor start cost me the chance to run further up the field.

"In the second race I was trying and pushing very hard to try and hold on to sixth. On the last lap I went into a long left-hander faster than ever before and lost the front end. I am disappointed - doubly so after crashing at the end of an otherwise good race. I will learn from this and come back stronger than ever at Knockhill."

Chris Walker: "I got a good start in the first race but lost time as the laps went by because of a lack of track knowledge - today was my first time riding Mondello Park in the dry on a Superbike."

"In the second race I was mugged when the early safety car returned to pit lane and lost a couple of places. I was recovering and riding faster than ever when I ran off the track. I stayed upright through the gravel and grass but had to lay the bike down before hitting the tire wall to minimize damage. We deserved better results today."

Race One Result: 1: Leon Haslam (Ducati) 30:02.146, 2: Shane Byrne (Honda) +0.158, 3: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +3.491, 4: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +9.793, 5: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +14.786, 6: Karl Harris (Honda) +18.354, 7: Leon Camier (Honda) +18.443, 8: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +18.685, 9: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +25.572, 10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +44.003.

Race Two Result: 1: Rea 30:14.164, 2: Byrne +2.344, 3: Lavilla +2.460, 4: Haslam +3.321, 5: Kiyonari +8.121, 6: Camier +13.898, 7: Tom Sykes (Honda) +14.354, 8: Harris +21.447, 9: Hill +23.490, 10: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +38.995. Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) DNF. Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) DNF.

Championship Positions (after 6 of 13 rounds): 1: Kiyonari 212, 2: Lavilla 211, 3: Rea 187, 4: Haslam 169, 5: Camier 136, 6: Byrne 127, 7: Sykes 115, 8=: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki), Hill 83, 10: Harris 65, 11: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) 51.

Qualifying
Rizla Suzuki's Cal Crutchlow scored his career best British Superbike Championship qualifying position by taking fifth place at the sixth round of the Bennetts Championship at Mondello Park in the Republic of Ireland today.

In heavy rain at the 2.18-mile-long water-logged track, Cal only came in once to clean his visor and add a touch of preload to his forks.

He completed 19-laps and was consistently in contention at the head of the timesheets, ending up just one tenth of a second off the front row.

Chris Walker was in eighth when a red flag stopped the session with just over two minutes remaining.

A handful of riders restarted and completed one last flying lap, with Honda's Tom Sykes the sole improver, pushing 'Stalker' back to ninth.

Cal Crutchlow: "That was a bit of fun in the wet. At a couple of the corners I was spinning the rear sideways through puddles and smiling inside my helmet."

"All I did today was stay out and get a feel for the bike and tires in the wet and it worked well as fifth is my best ever qualifying position in British Superbikes.

"I've always liked Mondello Park and can't wait to get racing. There's a lot of talk about the weather but I have no preference whether rain or sunshine; I have my target of getting in the top six to achieve."

Chris Walker: "I am disappointed not to have qualified further up the grid but the head of the third row means at least I am starting on the best side of the track for entering the first corner.

"I like Mondello Park and have enjoyed riding here; even in the pouring rain it has been good. Qualifying is one thing but points are awarded only for the races and I'll be going for it."

Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager: "Allowing Cal to stay out on track all session was a master stroke because he simply felt his way with the tires in the rain and went faster and faster. He's been strong all weekend and there's no reason he can't keep this run of good form up in the races.

"Chris did a decent job today and although he and his crew are disappointed with ninth, he can get the bike off the line like nobody else and I'm sure he'll be mixing it with Cal in the top six in the races.

"It has rained all weekend so far and we haven't had a single dry lap in any session. We are in good shape if the races are wet but if it is dry it's going to be a busy morning for everyone finding a set-up. Either way I think we are looking forward to an exciting race day."

2007 British Superbike - Mondello Park - June 16, 2007

Qualification Times

1: Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1:46.776

2: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.091

3: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +1.758

4: Karl Harris (Honda) +2.107

5: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +2.245

6: Shane Byrne (Honda) +2.396

7: Leon Camier (Honda) +2.689

8: Ton Sykes (Honda) +2.850

9: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +3.038

10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +4.308

Race Preview
Rizla Suzuki's Cal Crutchlow posted the seventh fastest time during today's practice for the sixth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Mondello Park in the Republic of Ireland.

It rained consistently during the day at the 2.18-mile twisty and bumpy circuit near Dublin, but in the afternoon the clouds broke slightly allowing the riders to post faster times in the second 50-minute long practice session.

Crutchlow ended up less than half a second off a provisional front row placing. Chris Walker suffered a surprise high-side with just eight minutes to go at the end of the day but rode back to the pits and rejoined on his spare bike, bringing it home 11th.

Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari was fastest.

Superbike racing starts at 1245 on Sunday, June 17th, at Mondello Park, County Kildare.

Cal Crutchlow: "I like Mondello Park and want to do well here. The weather has been tough with the rain, wind and cold, but it hasn't really bothered me. I only used a single rear tire and worked on my lines and building my confidence in the wet.

"I think if we soften the fork springs it will help the wet handling on my Rizla Suzuki. I've also been testing a new electronic system to reduce backing-in and it's been impressive - we will refine it and I'm sure it will be a big help for the future."

Chris Walker: "I am disappointed to have crashed at the end of the day when the track was a little drier than earlier. The good news is I am ok and reasonably comfortable with my wet weather settings.

"I am digging the circuit, I like it a lot and am enjoying riding here. Come rain or shine I'm looking forward to tomorrow and getting back on track again."

Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager: "I am impressed by Cal; he's in good shape if the races are wet and looking confident and composed. He's close to the front row and his crew can help make his bike more compliant for him and improve it further. Cal is riding well and we are looking forward to see what he can achieve.

"Chris tipped off at the end of the second session but luckily is unhurt and optimistic he can go faster. It's his first time at the circuit on a Superbike and he's learnt a lot that he can put to good use for the rest of the weekend.

"The forecast is for wet weather tomorrow and then sunshine on race day - either way, it doesn't really matter to us, Rizla Suzuki will be doing its best to challenge for the podium."

Friday Practice Times:
1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 1:48.336
2: Shane Byrne (Honda) +0.675
3: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +1.154
4: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +1.527
5: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +1.675
6: Karl Harris (Honda) +1.689
7: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +1.908
8: Leon Camier (Honda) +2.551
9: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +3.339
10: Tom Sykes (Honda) +3.713
11: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +4.070

Moto GP Star Provides a Silver Lining for Team STP Racing
Following what can only be described as an eventful British Superstock round at Snetterton, Team STP Racing is remaining positive with the announcement that Moto-GP star Chris Burns has agreed to help the continuing development of the Team’s MV Agusta F4 312R Superstock machine in the run-up to the Mondello Park round of the Championship.

Having just signed two times World Endurance Champion Warwick Nowland on a professional contract to race and develop the MV Agusta alongside Victor Cox the team suffered a setback at Snetterton.

With Victor already sidelined with a severely broken wrist following a crash at the Oulton Park round, the team was devastated when Warwick crashed out in qualifying for the Snetterton race, breaking his wrist in the process. In a further upset to the weekend’s racing, team mate Matt Whitman was also involved in a crash that prevented him taking out the team’s Yamaha R1.

“This was a double blow to the team,” says Jon Strike, team principal. “Warwick had made significant improvements in the short time he had been on the MV Agusta and we were looking forward to a positive result in the race. More importantly we had just taken delivery of a brand-new, factory prepared, F4 312R and planned to use the time between Snetterton and Mondello Park to develop this bike even further.”

Chris Burns - MV Agusta British Superstock

However, with the news that Warwick may be fit enough to ride at Mondello Park, although with a heavily strapped wrist the team is determined to push ahead with its ambitious plans. As a result Team STP Racing has announced that former WCM Moto-GP star Chris Burns is to join the team as development rider in the short term.

“The availability of Chris, who is an excellent development/test rider is a major boost to moral and our plans over the next few months,” says Jon Strike.

“With our ambition to step up to British Superbikes with the MV Agusta, as soon as possible, it was crucial that we continued with the important development work that Warwick has been brought in to undertake."

"I am confident that with Chris on board we will see the F4 312R move to the front of the grid and give the championship leaders a run for their money. We know that the performance is there with the MV and we remain excited by the prospect of what we can deliver with the package of bike and rider in what remains of the season.”

“The opportunity to develop a bike with the potential of the MV Agusta as well as the history attached to the Marque is a fantastic opportunity for me,” says Chris Burns. “I am looking forward to working with Team ST Racing as they are one of the most professional race teams in the Superstock Paddock and the entire team is full of enthusiasm and ambition for the coming season.”

Note: For informational use only. All material and photographs are Copyright © webWorld International, LLC - 2000-2008. All rights reserved. Read the Terms and Conditions. See the webBikeWorld® Site Info page.