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CRUTCHLOW 4TH AT CROFT BSB

Author: Suzuki Press Release
Posted on: Monday, Aug 13 2007



He got off to a great start in the opening race and settled into a close third on the track, dicing for the lead the entire race. On lap 17 he was relegated to fourth and despite his best efforts had to settle for the position - less than two seconds behind the winner at the chequered flag.

In the second race, 'Cal' was battling for the podium in fourth when he ran on to the grass and crashed. He gamely remounted and finished 13th, scoring valuable points.

Chris 'Stalker' Walker started ninth and finished eighth in the opening race, showing an impressive turn of speed as the race progressed. In the second race he crashed while passing Honda's Karl Harris on the slow hairpin before remounting and finishing 10th.

Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari won both races at the North Yorkshire track.

Rizla Suzuki returns to race action at the bumper Bank Holiday Monday 11th round of the series at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire on 27th August.

Cal Crutchlow:

"I might have crashed in the second race but there's no stopping me smiling. The fact is I have recorded my first ever pole position and finished fourth, my highest ever placing in a Championship race. I've taken another step closer to the podium I think the whole Rizla Suzuki team deserves.

"In the opening race I thoroughly enjoyed riding at the front and while being pipped to the podium was a bit disappointing, I think I proved the Rizla Suzuki and I are capable of challenging at the sharp end. I proved it again in the second race before a false neutral put me on the grass and I crashed out of fourth - but at least I was able to remount and salvage a few points. It's been a good day's work and there are lots of positives for us to take to Cadwell Park in a fortnight's time."

Chris Walker:

"It's been a long time since I last raced at Croft so it took me a little longer to get up to speed this weekend than normal. On Saturday afternoon we made big improvements in the bike set-up but it just didn't give us enough time to catch up with everyone else, so an eighth and then 10th after crashing and remounting was as good as we could get.

"I think Cal's performance this weekend shows the team's potential and I'm very confident for the last three rounds of the Championship at Cadwell, Donington and Brands Hatch as they are all circuits I like and think will suit the Rizla Suzuki. Bring it on."

Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager:

"This has been an incredibly important weekend for Rizla Suzuki as Cal's efforts have proved we can genuinely fight for the podium in BSB. His pole position was awe-inspiring and his fourth place in the opening race just behind the winner shows we have race pace as well. He did incredibly well in both races - congratulations to Cal and his crew on a professional performance.

"Chris never got to grips with a good set-up on his Rizla Suzuki and that showed in the results. He crashed in the test at Croft last month and lost valuable track time and that would have helped enormously on setting his bike up this weekend. Chris is a much better rider than today's results suggest and the team will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to support him, we all want to see Stalker back at the front where he belongs…hopefully dicing with Cal."

Race One Result:
1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 26:51.398
2: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +1.301
3: Tom Sykes (Honda) +1.488
4: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +1.758
5: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +2.124
6: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +7.165
7: Leon Camier (Honda) +12.752
8: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki +18.487
9: Shane Byrne (Honda) +18.744
10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +24.845

Race Two Result:
1: Kiyonari 26:51.188
2: Rea +1.763
3: Sykes +2.157
4: Lavilla +2.583
5: Camier +4.305
6: Haslam +4.628
7: Byrne +8.964
8: Michael Rutter (Kawasaki) +35.969
9: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +39.549
10: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +39.600
13: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +58.283

Championship Positions (after 10 of 13 rounds):
1: Kiyonari 348
2: Rea 322
3: Haslam 288
4: Lavilla 269
5: Byrne 244
6: Sykes 203
7: Camier 199
8: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) 165
9: Hill 116
10: Harris 107
11: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) 101


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