BSB Croft:

[SALEEN S7R]

Combined qualifying times and starting grid for the sixth round of the Bennetts British Superbike championship at Croft.

1. Michael Rutter GBR HM Plant Honda 1min 20.624 secs
2. Dean Thomas AUS Hawk Kawasaki 1min 20.628 secs
3. Jonathon Rea IRL Red Bull Honda 1min 20.904 secs
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda 1min 20.954 secs
5. Karl Harris GBR Honda UK Racing 1min 21.157 secs
6. Glen Richards AUS Hawk Kawasaki 1min 21.542 secs
7. Leon Haslam GBR GSE Racing Ducati 1min 21.520 secs
8. Michael Laverty IRL Stobart Honda 1min 21.571 secs
9. Steve Plater GBR Sendo Dienza Performance Kawasaki 1min 21.619 secs
10. James Buckingham GBR Quay Racing Suzuki 1min 21.624 secs C
11. Kieran Clarke GBR Hydrex Honda 1min 21.698 secs
12. James Haydon GBR Virgin Yamaha 1min 21.700 secs
13. Gregorio Lavilla SPA GSE Racing Ducati 1min 21.753 secs
14. Tommy Hill GBR Virgin Yamaha 1min 21.756 secs
15. Scott Smart GBR Rizla Suzuki 1min 21.954 secs
16. John Reynolds GBR Rizla Suzuki 1min 22.003 secs
17. Gary Mason GBR Stobart Honda 1min 22.065 secs
18. Marty Nutt GBR Nutttravel.com Racing Honda 1min 22.331 secs C
19. Jon Kirkham GBR Sendo Dienza Performance Kawasaki 1min 22.332 secs
20. Danny Beaumont GBR JJL Racing Honda 1min 22.551 secs C
21. Ben Wilson GBR Vivaldi Racing Kawasaki 1min 22.687 secs
22. John Laverty IRL Vitrans Ten Kate Honda 1min 22.917 secs
23. Chris Martin GBR Carmasters Racing Suzuki 1min 23.094 secs C
24. Steve Brogan GBR PR Branson Honda 1min 23.139 secs C
25. Dean Ellison GBR Slingshot Racing Honda 1min 23.581 secs
26. Richard Wren GBR Virgin Yamaha 1min 23.778 secs
27. Marshall Neill GBR AIM Racing Kawasaki 1min 24.066 secs
28. Tristan Palmer GBR Vivaldi Racing Kawasaki 1min 24.199 secs
29. Nick Medd GBR ARCO Medd Racing Kawasaki 1min 24.249 secs
30. Sheridan Morais GBR Team Nvidia Yamaha 1min 24.413 secs
31. Gareth Glynn GBR Jentin Racing Yamaha 1min 24.787 secs C
32. Malcolm Ashley GBR MAR Kawasaki 1min 24.789 secs C
33. Luke Quigley GBR Jentin Racing Yamaha 1min 24.921 secs
34. Michael Pensaville GBR MP Racing Kawasaki 1min 24.939 secs C

[All riders improved times during second qualifying]

Great grid IMO, bit of a shame to have the 2 Rizla Suzuki's so far back though. The grid is looking quite international now too isnt it, 5 differnt countries are represented for tommorows grid. Hopefully Rea can do a good job tommorow and take a win, felt so sorry for him after Mondello.

[gomick]

dean thomas - my namesake - so close to his 2nd bsb pole....

[ATF]

Kiyo and Lavilla took the wins, same as at Mondello. Didn't look like a good day for Suzuki yet again - I thought they were getting things sorted! Maybe other circuits will suit them better!! Why has it all gone wrong for them? And also noticed Haydon was on a Yamaha - is that in place of Emmett - is he injured?

Will have to wait til next sunday to see races though cos I haven't got Sky!

[SALEEN S7R]

Great couple of races, although race 2 was best IMO. Great to see Lavilla at the front of the grid where he belongs. What has happened to the Rizla Suzuki's though? They have gone from hero to zero this year.

[Alex Toropov]

and Scott is out of it...

www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk
08 June 2005
Rizla Suzuki parts company with Scott Smart


IN an amicable split, Rizla Suzuki and Scott Smart have agreed to go their separate ways in search of improved results and performance.

Robert Wicks, Rizla Suzuki Team Manager, said: "We are disappointed not to have been able to unlock Scott's obvious potential as a Superbike racer, however we need to move forward and improve our results.

"Rizla Suzuki is results driven and we have not been delivering the values our partners require during the first six rounds of the year. It is best for both Rizla Suzuki as a team and Scott as a talented professional racer if we pursue our separate paths.

"We accept that there have been contributing factors that have made Scott's job extremely difficult - the injury to John Reynolds added unexpected pressure, Scott has not always agreed with the direction the team wishes to take, we lacked testing due to the late delivery of the race bike and everyone in the team has had to adjust to a new structure."

Scott said: "There is no question that I struggled to gel with the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000. We tried making many changes and I still couldn't find a competitive setting. I had very little confidence in the bike and that was reflected in my results.

"While I didn't always agree with the team on ways to improve the race bike, I do agree with them now that we should have a clean break and go our separate ways. For the benefit of my own career, I need to get back winning races and I am now looking for another team to achieve that with.

"I know how important it is for Rizla Suzuki to get results and I personally want to see MXC as an investor in my career and Rizla Suzuki, be successful on both counts. I wish Rizla Suzuki well for the rest of the season."

Tony Weaver, Scott Smart's Manager and a Director of MXC, said: "I am disappointed that Scott and Rizla Suzuki have not been able to get the results that both sorely deserve.

"As Scott's Manager I remain committed to him and his career and have faith that he is a future Champion. As a sponsor of Rizla Suzuki, MXC remains committed to the most professional team in British Superbikes and we will continue our very successful relationship.

"I think this parting of company is necessary to allow both Scott and Rizla Suzuki to focus on getting much improved results and I'll be cheering both on for the remainder of the season."

Wicks added: "Rizla Suzuki thanks Scott for all his efforts in the Championship this year, wishes him the very best for his future career and hopes to see him back where he belongs fighting for race wins soon.

"As a team we will now review our options for the second half of the British Superbike season and will make an announcement on a replacement rider shortly."

[SALEEN S7R]

Good decision by Rizla Suzuki IMO, Smart just hasnt performed this year. Anyone got any ideas as to who the replacement rider might be?

[SALEEN S7R]

Just been thinking, Shane Byrne is out of a ride at the moment isnt he. Perhaps he could be the mystery rider, he would certainly fit the bill I would imagine, experince and age on his side too, would be a bit strange though having the 2003 and 2004 BSB champions racing in the same team lol. IMO.

[Hazza]

The rumours I read suggested James Haydon...

[ATF]

Haydon would seem the obvious choice - he def deserves a ride and was a good substitute for Suzuki earlier in the year. Shame for Scott though - where will he go?