Rizla Suzuki racer Cal Crutchlow scored his best ever points haul at a British Superbike meeting at the 11th round of the Championship at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire today.
In front of a massive Bank Holiday Monday crowd and in warm sunshine, starting from seventh on the second row, Cal finished fifth in the opening race and then went one better to take a career best equalling fourth in the second. His round total of 24-points is well ahead of his previous best of 18 at the ninth round at Mallory Park and moves him into the top 10 in the Championship standings.
Rizla Suzuki’s Chris ‘Stalker’ Walker kept getting faster as the weekend progressed. He came home with very respectable eight and sixth place finishes after starting from 10th on the grid. Ducati’s Leon Haslam won the opening race and Honda’s Jonathan Rea the second.
Cal, Chris and triple British Superbike Champion John Reynolds will be at the annual Crescent Open weekend this Saturday and Sunday September 1st – 2nd at the Performance Centre in Verwood, Dorset. The team returns to race action at Donington Park and the penultimate round of the Championship on September 23rd.
Cal
“I’ve always enjoyed racing at Cadwell Park and without a doubt today has been my best ever on a Superbike. It’s funny because I didn’t have any expectations and simply went out determined to do my best and make sure I got two solid finishes. A few riders fell off and I benefited from that but that’s racing – you have to finish to score points.
“The podium is getting closer and closer with every round and that is my target before the season ends. Thanks to my Rizla Suzuki team for all their support over the course of the weekend, they worked non-stop and prepared two fantastic GSX-R1000s for me.”
Stalker
“I am pleased with sixth place, I think that was as good as we could have expected after a seven year absence from the circuit. My Rizla Suzuki simply got better every time I rode it and I wish there was another day of racing because I think I could improve even further.
“I love Cadwell Park and even though I would have preferred a podium finish, I have thoroughly enjoyed coming back to what is a spectacular circuit with the best fans in the world cheering us on.”
Simon Buckmaster, Team Manager
“Well done to Cal on his best race day so far on a Superbike. He’s going from strength to strength and along with his whole crew, he is starting to show his true talent. We have high hopes for the rest of the season.
“It wasn’t easy for Chris coming back to such a technically difficult and demanding circuit after a seven year absence, but he has done himself and his technicians proud. We are confident he can compete for the podium at the final two rounds and look forward to a good end of the season run with him.
"The Rizla Suzuki team continues to improve and progress with every outing and we are now genuine podium contenders. Roll on Donington Park in four weeks time.”
Race One Results
- Leon Haslam (Ducati) 26:21.047
- Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +2.233
- Tom Sykes (Honda) +2.862
- Shane Byrne (Honda) +13.872
- CAL CRUTCHLOW (RIZLA SUZUKI) +14.196
- Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +15.968
- Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +34.111
- CHRIS WALKER (RIZLA SUZUKI) +34.966
- James Haydon (Kawasaki) +41.182
- Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +41.406
Race Two Results:
- Rea 27:00.039
- Kiyonari +1.085
- Lavilla +1.208
- CAL CRUTCHLOW (RIZLA SUZUKI) +4.421
- Sykes +6.681
- CHRIS WALKER (RIZLA SUZUKI) +11.459
- Hill +13.608
- Haydon +16.250
- Steve Plater (Yamaha) +16.624
- Michael Rutter (Kawasaki) +19.127
Championship Positions (after 11 of 13 rounds)
- 1: Kiyonari 388 points
- Rea 347 points
- Haslam 313 points
- Lavilla 294 points
- Byrne 257 points
- Sykes 230 points
- Leon Camier (Honda) 199 points
- CHRIS WALKER (RIZLA SUZUKI) 183 points
- Hill 135 points
- CAL CRUTCHLOW (RIZLA SUZUKI) 125 points
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