Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Walker recorded a storming early lap time to secure sixth place on the grid for tomorrow’s seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland as rain closed in and robbed the circuit of grip. The 50-minute-long session started dry with moisture in the air and the riders went out on full slicks. ‘Stalker’ was immediately on the pace and it stood him in good stead after nine minutes when the rain started to fall making it impossible to improve lap times. He and defending Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari tied on the fifth fastest lap time but the Rizla Suzuki racer was relegated to sixth on quickest lap count-back. Crutchlow made a steady start to qualifying missing his chance to put in a competitive lap time while the track was dry, leaving him an uncharacteristic 11th on the grid. The session was declared wet and he went out with four minutes remaining to speed-test his rain settings. Honda’s Jonathan Rea took pole position. Chris Walker: “I started the session on a race tyre and it is just as well I got up to speed quickly because I had only completed a handful of laps when the drizzle started and put an end to fast times. “I’m enjoying myself this weekend and my crew is making positive changes to my Rizla Suzuki. Everything has been going in the right direction and in the dry we can be competitive. I think I have a good rain set-up after plenty of wet track time at the last round at Mondello Park.” Cal Crutchlow: “I had been running in the top seven until qualifying and then was caught out by the rain coming on early in the session. If it’s dry then I want to be up challenging in the top seven and think that is realistic. “If it is wet, which is more than likely, then I am confident in my Rizla Suzuki and think I can challenge well up the field. Knockhill is a favourite circuit of mine and in the rain it’ll be the smoothest riders that benefit and that will suit me.” Simon Buckmaster – Team Manager: “Chris did a good professional job by going out at the start of the session and posting a quick lap time – that is his years of experience coming to the fore. Cal on the other hand did not post a quick time early on – that’s another lesson learnt for him in his first year in Superbikes. “Chances are it will be wet tomorrow and that will level the playing field for everyone and I think play to Rizla Suzuki’s strengths as Chris and Cal have good rain settings. If it’s dry we will be going for top six with both riders.” Qualification Times: 1: Jonathan Rea (Honda) 48.345 2: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.320 3: Tom Sykes (Honda) +0.494 4: Leon Camier (Honda) +0.796 5: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.895 6: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +0.895 7: Karl Harris (Honda) +1.183 8: Shane Byrne (Honda) +1.194 9: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +1.283 10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +1.375 11: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +1.429. More, from a press release issued by Stobart Motorsport: Sykes Storms to Knockhill Front Row 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Rounds 13 & 14 Knockhill, Fife Sunday 1st July 2007 Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport rider Tom Sykes posted third fastest in qualifying for round seven of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship as the weather interrupted proceedings at Knockhill in Scotland today. The 21 year old Yorkshireman took advantage in the early minutes of the one and only qualifying session to seal his best qualifying position of the season as shortly after he set his fastest lap the heavens opened and the rain came down. The front row will be Sykes’ second of the season following his fourth place qualifying position at Oulton Park in round four. But for team mate Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne it was not so happy and as a result the 30 year old Londoner will start tomorrow’s two races from the second row of the grid. Byrne got held up in the early stages of the session before the rain came but nonetheless a row two start in eighth place is not a disaster for the VK sponsored rider. Tom Sykes: “I could see the clouds coming over so we set a plan of action and decided to put a qualifier in from the go and I just got out as soon as the flag went out. I found a bit of clear track and it was great. It’s fantastic to be on the front row for the second time this year and all we need is a good start as we’ve got a good set up for tomorrow. The bike was fine in the wet too so I’m just looking forward to getting another couple of good results under my belt and score some more points.” Shane Byrne: “I got to the front as soon as I could at the start of practice and tried to get a clear lap because I knew it was important to go fast at the start but I came upon some backmarkers and couldn’t get past. I pulled in to try a qualifier but by then it was already raining so it was too late for me. I’m not happy but I hope to make amends tomorrow.” Paul Bird: “It’s great that Tom’s on the front row again, but a bit disappointing for Shakey. It’s a shame the rain didn’t hold off a bit longer because we could have been up there with both riders but hopefully we can get some solid results tomorrow” The first of the Bennetts British Superbike races gets underway at 13.00 with the second one screened live on ITV1 at 15.40. Qualifying 1, Jonathan Rea (Honda) 48.345s, 2, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 48.665s, 3, Tom Sykes (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) 48.839s, 4, Leon Camier (Honda) 49.141s, 5, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 49.240s, 6, Chris Walker (Suzuki) 49.240s, 7, Karl Harris (Honda) 49.528s, 8, Shane Byrne (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) 49.539s, 9, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 49.628s, 10, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 49.720s. Sunday 1st July 09.30 09.45 Warm up 13.00 Race 1 – 30 laps 15.40 Race 2 – 30 laps ITV1 Broadcast: 15.00 16.30 Sky Sports XTRA:20.00 – 23.30