Rizla Suzuki’s Cal Crutchlow was fifth, just 2/10ths of a second away from the fastest rider in today’s practice sessions for the final round of the 2008 British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch Indy circuit in Kent.
He tried both his Rizla Suzuki race bikes and made minor changes to suspension and gearing in the dry afternoon session after a damp morning. “I need to marry the best bits of both my bikes, ” enthused Crutchlow. “One bike has a stronger engine, the other is better on corner entry. If we combine the best aspects of both, then I can cut my times significantly.
“I am within a whisker of the fastest rider and really upbeat for this weekend. I want the podium so bad I can taste it. “
The fast and frantic 1.22-mile Brands Hatch Indy track is one of the best for spectator viewing in the country and the twisty nature allows for plenty of overtaking.
Honda’s Shane Byrne was fastest today.
Chris ‘Stalker’ Walker ended the day ninth after battling to find a comfortable setting on his Rizla Suzuki. He said: “I am struggling on corner entry and outright grip. Because of the wet morning session it was hard to find out any information and we were very busy in the afternoon altering settings. There’s more to come tomorrow. “
Rizla Suzuki Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “It’s great to see Cal in the thick of the action and the whole team is behind him in his bid to get on the podium this weekend, his final chance in his first year in Superbikes.
“Chris is coping well with relearning the tight and twisty Brands Hatch Indy circuit and is within spitting distance of the front so we are confident he can challenge. “
Superbike racing starts at noon on the short and exciting 1.22-mile long Indy circuit which is as close to a stadium event you can get in racing.
Practice Times:
1: Shane Byrne (Honda) 45.691
2: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +0.080
3: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +0.096
4: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.157
5: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +0.211
6: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.273
7: Karl Harris (Honda) +0.393
8: Tom Sykes (Honda) +0.530
9: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +0.890
10: Michael Rutter (Kawasaki) +0.935
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