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WALKER DELIGHTED WITH GSX-R1000K7 |
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Saturday, 04 November 2006 |
WALKER DELIGHTED WITH GSX-R1000K7
 RIZLA SUZUKI’S Chris Walker is
delighted with the performance of the new GSX-R1000K7 after completing
a two-day test at Valencia in Spain.
Walker rode the 2006
Rizla Suzuki at the Mallory Park Race of the Year and for the first
morning of the Valencia test to get up to speed before trying the new
fledgling GSX-R1000K7. Despite it featuring numerous standard
production parts, within 15-laps he had comfortably bettered his
previous best lap time.
Rizla Suzuki young gun Cal Crutchlow
tested the 2006 Rizla Suzuki during both days and finished just
one-second behind his team mate. He tested many parts and Dunlop tyres
and is champing at the bit to ride the new GSX-R1000K7 at the team’s
next test, scheduled for late January 2007.
In dry and warm
conditions the Rizla Suzuki pair completed 293 laps over the two-day
test. Rizla Suzuki will spend the winter months building and developing
the all-new race bikes at its Verwood HQ in Dorset before undertaking
further foreign tests early in the New Year.
Chris:
“I
started out on the ’06 bike so I could compare with the new GSX-R. On
the K7 the engine is in development specification and there were road
bike parts being used but even then, it was a noticeable improvement
over the old race bike.
“The new bike was easier to ride,
accurate and took less effort to hold its line and do what I wanted it
to do. It’s really encouraging as my lap times were good and there
still remains a lot of untapped potential. It’s a fast user friendly
bike and the team will now be working to make it even quicker. I’m
smiling.”
Cal:
“It’s been a good test and
I’ve learnt a lot about what you can adjust and change on a Superbike –
there is a lot more than I have ever had to think about before. PJ, my
Chief Mechanic, has also learnt a lot so from that point of view it’s
been a great test.
“Personally I am a little disappointed to
have been beaten by my team mate but we all know the ’07 bike is at
least a half second or more better than the ’06 GSX-R, so I’m okay with
it. I can’t wait to get my hands on the new bike so I can test it,
January can’t come quick enough.”
Simon Buckmaster, Team Manager:
“It’s
been a good first test for Rizla Suzuki. It’s already clear the new
GSX-R1000K7 is a better race bike than the ’06 version and that gives
us all encouragement, although we will not be relaxing at all, instead
we will be working hard over the coming months to build and improve the
package we currently have in time for our next test.
“Chris
was on lap record pace and while Cal was a little bit behind him he
learnt about what can be changed on a Superbike and will be a lot
stronger because of it. It’s back to England to start the hard
developmental work now before starting a comprehensive foreign test
schedule early in 2007.”
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