2007 British Superbike Motorcycle Racing

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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.

Honda's Jonathan Rea took pole position in front of his home fans.

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."