Leon Haslam: “The positives we take from what little track time we got at Brands Hatch is that we were there or thereabouts in qualifying and we had made some improvements in set-up to the 2008 Fireblade, which have been a real step forward. At Thruxton the season really begins and for me I know I need to work hard, get a good grid position for Sunday’s races and translate that into some good points. I’ll be looking for podiums or better this weekend to really start my championship challenge off in the right way.”
Shane Byrne: “We had a pretty good outing at Brands Hatch and I am aiming to take that into this weekend at Thruxton. I just hope the weather doesn’t ruin it for us again! Achieving pole position at Brands Hatch has given me even more confidence about the Ducati 1098R and what it is capable of. I like Thruxton and the Ducati’s have done well there in the past few years so I am confident for a good result this weekend."
Karl Harris: "After the success that the team had in qualifying at Brands I’m feeling really positive and looking forward to showing how well I can run on the Yamaha this coming weekend. I got my first Supersport win at Thruxton back in 2001, so I know that I can run well here."
Tom Sykes: "Thruxton is a circuit I really enjoy as it is fast and flowing,” he said. “It is very abrasive so it has good grip but is hard on tyres. To string together a good lap you need to make sure once you are through the first turn that you make the following corners flow together. I try to be pin point accurate and very smooth. I’m really looking forward to it as it produces good racing. It is my team’s home round so I will be trying my hardest like I do at every round - I’ll give it 110 per cent.”
Cal Crutchlow: “I’ve always enjoyed racing at Thruxton and had some great fights there. It really is a battling circuit, where the slipstream can count for a lot. From Church to the last chicane the rider leading the group is doing most of the work, so sometimes it’s best just to sit back and watch what’s happening and use the draft to pass into the final chicane. On the last lap, if you’re five lengths back you can still win. The track itself is very abrasive on tyres, but our CBR1000RR Fireblade has got a good set-up and if our tyres last for the full distance we will be up there fighting for the win. I’m just happy to finally be going racing!”
Leon Camier: “I was a little sore after practice and qualifying at Brands Hatch but I knew I what I could have achieved in the race, so I was gutted when it was cancelled. My shoulder is feeling a lot better now and I hope to be challenging for the top positions this weekend.”
Atsushi Watanabe: “Everyone tells me it is very fast corners, I think it will suit my style. My Rizla Suzuki will be geared for high speed I think I will like this track as it is very, very fast. It is Rizla Suzuki home round so I will try hard for my team and for me.”
Chris Burns: “What people need to realise is that we’re really still working with a standard bike with race tyres, and when you are competing in something as fiercely contested as the British Superbike Championship, you are up against some serious competition. But STP Motorsport are a good team, everyone is reading from the same hymn book and none of us are expecting miracles with it yet. This bike is totally new to Superbike racing, and we’re the guys charged with developing it – it’s hardly a simple task!
"We need more horsepower, and although we know we’ll get there soon, I don’t think Thruxton is going to be too kind to us. We have to be realistic, and recognise that we are going to be at a bit of a disadvantage. But that hasn’t affected the team at all. Everyone is working hard, we’re all determined that we can make this work and there is no reason we can’t finish in the top three in the Cup.”
