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 tyre 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.
Cal 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 tyre that had completed a race distance simulation and is happy with his Rizla Suzuki. Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari was fastest.
Superbike racing starts at 1300 at Knockhill in Fife, Scotland, on Sunday, July 1st. The race action will be broadcast on ITV1 from 1500 and on Sky Sports XTRA from 2000 on the same day.
Stalker: “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 tyres 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:“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 tyre 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.”
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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