Rizla Suzuki’s Cal Crutchlow will start from sixth on the grid for tomorrow’s final round of the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in Kent after showing fast podium potential on race tyres during practice. Crutchlow built his pace across three practice sessions before challenging for pole position in the 50 minutes of qualifying. He eventually ended up sixth, only 2/10ths of a second behind pole position man Gregorio Lavilla on a Ducati. Chris ‘Stalker’ Walker put on a heroic display of riding after suffering a heavy crash in the morning session that left him heavily battered and bruised. He rode through the pain barrier to finish an incredible 11th. Cal Crutchlow: “I am really happy that I am just 2/10ths of a second off pole position but gutted that it is sixth place on the second row – it’s very close at the front of the grid. “On race tyres I am able to run very fast lap times and more than ever I am capable of challenging for the podium. It’s my last chance to achieve a rostrum in my rookie year tomorrow and I’ll be giving it my all.” Chris Walker: “I am feeling very beaten up after my morning crash. I ran into Graham Hill bend and lost the back end of my Rizla Suzuki and hit the ground hard. I took a while to come round but fortunately nothing is broken and I can ride. “Qualification was tough, I had to grit my teeth a few times and sheer determination saw me through. I’m happy with 11th on the grid given my physical condition and will be looking for a good night’s sleep and to rest as much as possible before the races.” Simon Buckmaster – Team Manager: “It’s been a good strong performance from both Rizla Suzuki racers today. Cal is bang on the money in race trim and I know how much he wants a podium so we are expecting great things tomorrow. “Chris suffered a very quick crash this morning and is badly bruised and in quite a bit of pain. The fact he took to the track in the afternoon is astounding and then to take 11th on the grid shows his determination and will to succeed. He’s already a hero for just riding again after such a crash and will be looking for strong results to finish his season tomorrow.” Qualifying Times: 1: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 45.190 2: Tom Sykes (Honda) +0.191 3: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +0.193 4: Shane Byrne (Honda) +0.194 5: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.195 6: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +0.260 7: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.294 8: Karl Harris (Honda) +0.374 9: James Haydon (Kawasaki) +0.780 10: Ian Hutchinson (Honda) +0.884 11: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +0.887 More, from a press release issued by Stobart Motorsport: Front Row Start for Stobart Motorsport Duo 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Rounds 25 & 26 Brands Hatch Indy, Kent Sunday 14th October 2007 Stobart Vent Axia VK Motorsport riders Tom Sykes and Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne will start tomorrow’s final two rounds of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship from the front row following today’s qualifying session at Brands Hatch in Kent. For the first time this season with both riders on row one, 21 year old Sykes and 30 year old Byrne held first and second positions for much of the 50 minute session as the top riders fought it out around the tight Indy circuit but despite putting laps in underneath the lap record, Yorkshireman Sykes had to settle for second place on the grid with Zurich residing Londoner Byrne in fourth. The result of qualifying means that both riders are well placed to continue their great form this season as Sykes goes in search of his first victory following on five podiums in the last six races and Byrne, fresh from a podium finish at Donington last time out will be looking to add another win at his local circuit, to the one he scored at Mallory. Tom Sykes: “We had a fairly steady start to the weekend, but we’ve built up and we changed a lot of things for the final free practice which set us up perfectly for qualifying. It’s another front row start which is much needed around this circuit, I’m happy with my race set up, and I’ve got a really good Dunlop tyre. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and hope to get some good results to round off an absolutely fantastic year for which I cannot thank Paul Bird and the boys enough.” Shane Byrne: “I’m quite happy with that. I was a bit unlucky with the second qualifier not to go any quicker as it took me a while to get past Leon Haslam and by then the qualifier was finished. At the end of the day it’s a front row start but I did it on the spare bike because we had a problem, so the boys have done a great job again for me, as have Dunlop tyres.” Paul Bird: “I’m ecstatic. It’s as good as a win having them both on the front row. We’ve got a lot of guests here from Vent Axia so it’s brilliant, especially with Shakey doing it on his spare bike. We had a plan and it all came to fruition and well done to the boys. I’m sure they’ll be in the mix tomorrow, it just keeps getting better and better.” The first of the Bennetts British Superbike races gets underway at 12.00 with the second one screened live on ITV1 at 14.50. Qualifying: 1, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 45.190s, 2, Tom Sykes (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) 45.381s, 3, Jonathan Rea (Honda) 45.383s, 4, Shane Byrne (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) 45.384s, 5, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 45.385s, 6, Cal Crutchlow (Suzuki) 45.450s, 7, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 45.484s, 8, Karl Harris (Honda) 45.564s, 9, James Haydon (Kawasaki) 45.970s, 10, Ian Hutchinson (Honda) 46.074s.