Shakey Bumped off Silverstone Pole in Final Minute 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Rounds 5 & 6 Silverstone, Northants Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport rider Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne very nearly claimed the first pole position in three long years for Paul Bird’s team when he looked to have set fastest time in qualifying today for round three of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Silverstone. The 30 year old Londoner lapped the 2.21 mile Northamptonshire circuit in a time of 1m 25.616s and looked to have boxed off the fastest time as out came the red flags with just eleven minutes of the session remaining. Despite circulating throughout the final minutes of the session Byrne looked to have done enough as the VK backed team looked on but then with two rapid laps in succession, HM Plant Honda rival Ryuichi Kiyonari and the Airwaves Ducati of Leon Haslam managed to lap quicker than Byrne who as a result will start tomorrow’s two 20-lap races from third position on the grid. Team mate Tom Sykes posted ninth fastest time in a hectic session and will start from row three of the grid meaning a good start will be vital for the 21 year old Yorkshireman who has consistently scored points in all the rounds to date. Shane Byrne: “I’m a bit gutted really, the first qualifier would have definitely gone better but I got blocked a couple of times by other riders. I had a good couple of laps and then I hit a neutral and I just lost all the drive. We’re on the front row so I can’t be too disappointed and we’ve got a good race set up for tomorrow’s races.” Tom Sykes: “I’m very disappointed with that, I put my qualifier in and another rider spoilt my run and I’ve ended up back on the third row which means I have a lot of work to do. Our race pace is brilliant and we’ve got a good race set up, so I’ll just have to make sure I get a good start but a second row start would have made life a lot easier.” Paul Bird: “Two front row starts from Shakey in two race meetings is just what we wanted. It was a shame he couldn’t hang on to that pole position but it’s what happens tomorrow in the races that matters. We’re happy with the set up of the bikes and we may just have to wait that little bit longer for the pole but a couple of podiums tomorrow from Shakey will certainly make up for that. As for Tom, third row is not a disaster and although he’s a little bit disappointed with it, if he can get away with them then I’m sure he will be battling up at the front.” The first 20-lap race gets underway at 12.40 followed by the second one at 15.20 which is live on ITV1. Qualifying 1, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 1m25.383s, 2, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 1m25.406s, 3, Shane Byrne (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) 1m25.616s, 4, Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1m25.688s, 5, Chris Walker (Suzuki) 1m25.816s, 6, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 1m26.032s, 7, Leon Camier (Honda) 1m26.139s, 8, Cal Crutchlow (Suzuki) 1m26.218s, 9, Tom Sykes (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) 1m26.284s, 10, Michael Rutter (Kawasaki) 1m26.323s. More, from a press releass issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Walker will start from fifth and Cal Crutchlow from eighth to bookend the second row of the grid in tomorrow’s third round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Silverstone in Northamptonshire. ‘Stalker’ was in contention for a front row position for much of the session and only missed out by just over a 10th of a second right at the end. Crutchlow saved his best lap until last to join his team mate on the same row of the grid. In blustery wind and glorious sunshine, both Rizla Suzuki racers made big strides forward with the set-ups on their GSX-R1000s. Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari took pole position. Chris Walker: “The effort it takes to ride a Superbike on the limit is incredible. I gave it my all in qualifying and earned my second row start. “My Rizla Suzuki feels hard at the front and soft at the rear. It’s a situation we are working on but it isn’t easy to sort because if we soften the front, it hampers our braking performance. Overall the package isn’t bad though – it’s certainly close to the pace and we’ll be working to make it better in warm-up in the morning.” Cal Crutchlow: “My Rizla Suzuki is absolutely mint when I am riding it on a qualifying tyre – the extra grip gives me so much confidence. On race tyres it moves around a little but it is now becoming more predictable and I enjoy riding it. “We still have a decision to make on which tyre we will use in the races. I will be aiming for a good start and to hang on to the riders in front of me; my target is the top six.” Simon Buckmaster – Team Manager: “I think Chris was a little unlucky to have been pushed off the front row right at the end of the session; but that actually might play to our favour for the races as he is now starting behind pole position and on the best part of the track for attacking the first corner. “Cal did a terrific job to get on the second row and has lifted his game as the weekend has progressed. If he can get into the top six from the start then he’ll start fighting with the other riders and that’ll bring the best out of him. “The Rizla Suzuki team has worked hard this weekend and will do what it takes to get back to the front where it belongs. We are all pulling together and working well as a team and that means the results will not be far away.”