Rizla Suzuki racer Chris Walker recorded a storming early lap time to secure sixth place on the grid for today’s seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland as rain closed in and robbed the circuit of grip yesterday.
The 50-minute-long session started dry with moisture in the air and the riders went out on full slicks. Stalker was immediately on the pace and it stood him in good stead after nine minutes when the rain started to fall making it impossible to improve lap times. Stalker and defending Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari tied on the fifth fastest lap time but the Rizla Suzuki racer was relegated to sixth on quickest lap count-back.
Cal made a steady start to qualifying missing his chance to put in a competitive lap time while the track was dry, leaving him an uncharacteristic 11th on the grid. The session was declared wet and he went out with four minutes remaining to speed-test his rain settings. Honda’s Jonathan Rea took pole position.
Superbike racing starts at 13:00 at Knockhill in Fife, Scotland, today. The race action will be broadcast on ITV1 from 15:00 and on Sky Sports XTRA from 20:00.
Stalker:
“I started the session on a race tyre and it is just as well I got up to speed quickly because I had only completed a handful of laps when the drizzle started and put an end to fast times. “I’m enjoying myself this weekend and my crew is making positive changes to my Rizla Suzuki. Everything has been going in the right direction and in the dry we can be competitive. I think I have a good rain set-up after plenty of wet track time at the last round at Mondello Park.”
Cal:
“I had been running in the top seven until qualifying and then was caught out by the rain coming on early in the session. If it’s dry then I want to be up challenging in the top seven and think that is realistic. “If it is wet, which is more than likely, then I am confident in my Rizla Suzuki and think I can challenge well up the field. Knockhill is a favourite circuit of mine and in the rain it’ll be the smoothest riders that benefit and that will suit me.”
Simon Buckmaster, Team Manager:
“Chris did a good professional job by going out at the start of the session and posting a quick lap time – that is his years of experience coming to the fore. Cal on the other hand did not post a quick time early on - that’s another lesson learnt for him in his first year in Superbikes. “Chances are it will be wet tomorrow and that will level the playing field for everyone and I think play to Rizla Suzuki’s strengths as Chris and Cal have good rain settings. If it’s dry we will be going for top six with both riders.”
Qualification Times
- Jonathan Rea (Honda) 48.345
- Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.320
- Tom Sykes (Honda) +0.494
- Leon Camier (Honda) +0.796
- Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.895
- CHRIS WALKER (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.895
- Karl Harris (Honda) +1.183
- Shane Byrne (Honda) +1.194
- Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +1.283
- Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +1.375
- CAL CRUTCHLOW (RIZLA SUZUKI) +1.429
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