Cal faster at Calafat

Rizla Suzuki completed a two-day test at Calafat, Spain yesterday and Superbike rookie Cal Crutchlow lapped faster than his more experienced team-mate Chris Walker.
Crutchlow was having his first real test on the 2007 bike (having ridden the team’s 2006 race bike before). 
His best lap around the 3.5km Calafat circuit in Spain was a 1:25.5, two tenths better than Walker’s. 
Walker though concentrated on development work but any chance of perfecting the team’s electronics package, which includes traction control, was cut short by rain midway through the second day.
But Walker still managed 115 laps in the dry and said: “We didn’t quite get into the final stages of sorting the bike as we’d hoped because of the weather but it’s clear the 2007 bike has a lot of potential.  
“The power delivery is spot-on and there’s so much drive in all the gears. It’s nice (after WSB with a Kawasaki) to have a bike with a surplus of power.”
Crutchlow did 105 laps added: “The 2007 bike is so much better in every single aspect to the 2006 bike I rode previously. 
“Already I’m really comfortable with the package and we’ve still a lot of testing to come so it’s only going to get better.” 
Team manager Simon Buckmaster said: This is the first time the team has spent any real time away together and we’ve gelled well, sharing information and working together to develop the bike. 
“We’ve sorted the new Ohlins suspension and got a good chassis package. We also tested a wide range of Dunlop tyres. The engine power delivery is very good. 
“We had planned to concentrate on developing the electronics package in the final afternoon but the weather turned so we called a halt to riding.
“There’s still work to be done but we’ve got plenty of information to take back to the raceshop in Verwood and will be in even better shape when we got to Almeria in Spain in two weeks time for another test.”