Rizla get ’07 bikes

Chris Walker and Call Crutchlow will have four brand new 2007 GSX-R1000s between them when they resume their pre-season winter testing programme in February.

The team took delivery of three 2007 Suzuki GSX-R1000 production bikes last week to add to the single bike it has been using as a test bed for its new British Superbike racer.

The four bikes are now being modified to BSB regulations at the team’s  head quarters in the Crescent Performance Centre in Verwood, Dorset where they will be fitted with the latest Ohlins gas-charged forks and rear shock, Marchesini forged magnesium wheels, Factory swing arm and tank, Yoshimura exhaust, Dunlop tyres and Crescent carbon fibre bodywork.

The 999cc in-line four cylinder engine will be tuned by in-house using Suzuki factory, Crescent, NGK, Pipercross and Yoshimura parts and will produce in excess of 200bhp with the power delivery controlled via a Motec engine management system.

Team manager Simon Buckmaster said: “Our four 2007 specification GSX-R1000s will be built to our initial race specification in time for the team’s next test at the start of February.

“Suzuki has pulled out all the stops to supply us these bikes as early as possible and we will spend the next month building and tuning them for maximum performance on our in-house dyno before taking them on track.

“Our test at Valencia in November showed us the 2007 bike has considerable potential but that is only the start of the process. Now we’re absolutely flat out working on the new bikes and developing them as quickly as possible. We will do whatever it takes to be as competitive as possible this season.”

Rizla Suzuki will travel to Calafat in Spain for a private two-day test on February 7 and 8.

It will be the first time both Walker and Crutchlow will have two 2007 bikes each to test and will herald the start of a busy eight-week test period for the team in preparation for the opening round of the 2007 Championship at Brands Hatch on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, April 9.