From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

KAGAYAMA SETS POLE AT CROFT
Team Suzuki Press Office – August 14, 2004.

Yukio Kagayama set a blisteringly quick lap time on race rubber to take pole position for tomorrow’s 10th round of the British Superbike Championship at Croft while his team mate John Reynolds will start from the second row in sixth place.

Croft is new to the BSB calendar for 2004 and Kagayama used his experience of learning tracks quickly along with his immense riding talent to dominate the practice and qualifying sessions, finishing up with pole position on his Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Series leader Reynolds was second on the time sheets until the closing seconds of qualification when he was edged back to sixth on the grid. On the pace using race rubber, JR left the pit-garage vowing to be fighting for the podium.

He leads the Championship by 73 points from Honda’s Michael Rutter going into this round.

Yukio Kagayama:

“Thank you my team staff for helping me take pole position. This morning I ride hard and my Rizla Suzuki feels very fast – I set pole position lap time using race tyre. This afternoon I try many small changes and make same lap time and learn more about this circuit.

“I think over race distance we have a fast bike and I think maybe a good chance to get satisfactory result. I want to win races for my fans and Rizla Suzuki. This is my main aim for rest of season.”

John Reynolds:

“We have made good progress with my Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 and it is handling, driving and braking extremely well. On race rubber that is great, but I just couldn’t get it together on a qualifying tyre.

“Sixth on the grid is less than ideal, but my team is keeping me grounded in reality – we have the race set-up to challenge at the front and that is what is important. There are no points for qualifying and I know I will start the racing tomorrow with the most competitive bike possible.”

Stewart Johnstone – Chief Technician for Kagayama:

“Yuki has clicked well with Croft and been really strong every time he’s gone out on track. We started with a reasonable base setting on his GSX-R1000 and have spent most of the time refining it for race distance. The fact he set pole position during an endurance test on race rubber is very impressive and with a bit of luck tomorrow we could score some good results.

“JR has been closest to Yuki using race rubber and his qualifying position doesn’t reflect his competitiveness here. He is determined to extend his points advantage in the title chase and if he gets his trade-mark good start, will be right up the front in both races.”

Qualifying positions:

1: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) 1:20.904
2: Michael Rutter (Honda) +0.046
3: James Haydon (Yamaha) +0.176
4: Dean Thomas (Ducati) +0.285
5: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +0.324
6: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.425
7: Gary Mason (Yamaha) +0.522
8: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.879
9: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +0.914
10: John McGuinness (Kawasaki) +0.936.