Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Walker ended the team’s two-day test at Guadix happy with his GSX-R1000 and posting more high-speed laps than anyone else.
In perfect dry, sunny conditions, ‘Stalker’ completed 92-laps, uniquely with a large proportion of them in the low 1min 13s bracket. His quickest lap of 1min 13.10s placed him third on the day.
Cal Crutchlow suffered his second crash in two days but walked away unhurt. He totalled 87-laps and his best time of 1min 13.62 sec placed him fifth. Honda’s Jonathan Rea recorded a lap of 1min 12.84 sec to head the timesheets at the 3km Southern Spain circuit.
Rizla Suzuki now returns to its Crescent Performance Centre Head Quarters in Verwood, Dorset for further engine and bike development. It is in action again at Albacete in Spain in two weeks time for an official Dunlop test that will feature many of the British Superbike Championship’s main protagonists.
Chris Walker:
“It would have been nice to have headed the timesheets for a second day in a row but we made a conscious decision to avoid using qualifying tyres and focus on consistency. That was our plan coming here from Almeria and we weren’t going to be drawn into competing for the outright fastest lap as that simply would have wasted time and effort.
“I was the only rider putting together long strings of low 1min 13secs laps and in reality it is that performance that will matter in 20 or 30-lap races. We have made progress and I am delighted with the performance of my technicians, they’ve made inspired changes to the Rizla Suzuki and kept everything moving forward. “
Cal Crutchlow:
“To say anything other than I am disappointed with my times would be incorrect. I would have liked to been closer to Chris and the top of the timesheets; but I must keep reminding myself this is only my third test on the new Rizla Suzuki Superbike and to be as near as I am to the more experienced riders gives me heart.
“I suffered a crash each day. I am perfectly fine with no injuries and those accidents have given my crew something to work on for the next test, I want a little more feel when leaning to the maximum. Overall I am happy with how competitive I am on race tyres and can’t wait to get testing again in a fortnight. “
Simon Buckmaster - Team Manager:
“It’s been a hard week of testing on the road for the riders and the team technicians but they have come through it with flying colours. The development of the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 has come on in big steps with both sides of the garage sharing data, information and ideas.
“Chris reeled off a punishing number of fast laps and his obvious pleasure and enjoyment in riding the GSX-R1000 is rubbing off on the whole team. Cal was a little behind on the timesheets but in all our minds is quite a bit ahead of where we have any right to place a fresh-faced rookie. On race rubber he was within spitting distance of Chris Walker.
“We tested many variations of Dunlop tyres and front rim widths on our Marchesini wheels today. Add that to the Ohlins suspension and engine management data we have collected and the technicians will be working hard before the next test to further develop the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000’s performance. ”
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