Crash.net:
How does it feel to take your first Superbike win at the Race of the Year?
Cal Crutchlow:
Brilliant. I couldn't ask for much more from the Rizla Suzuki team this year. They have done a fantastic job and to round out
Brands Hatch with a third place and then to come here the weekend after and win was really good. The bike has been faultless, the second half of the year we have worked so hard with the bike. My side of the garage, Pete Jennings, along with Stu and Dan and Team Manager Simon Buckmaster, have all done a fantastic job of getting this bike right. We have also worked hard with Alan our data guy.
We had a pole at
Croft, which seems a long time ago now. We've been pushing for that podium ever since, it has been nice to finally repay them with a podium at Brands and a win this weekend. Thanks to Dunlop as well, they put a good effort in for us. It is nice to repay everybody that has helped me get here. To get my name on the Race of the Year trophy with the likes of Barry Sheene, Agostini and a lot of my childhood heroes, it is a pleasure.
Crash.net:
You didn't seem under pressure out there at all, how did you find it?
CC:
I went under lap record pace in the qualifying session on race tyres and then in the race I just controlled it. I did a few 51.5s, 51.6s when I needed to. The back markers were hard to get by, you come up on a group of six or seven of them at once and you had to pick your way round them. The gap was increasing and decreasing but I just put a lap time in when I needed to and made sure I won the race.
Crash.net:
How do you think your team-mate Jenny Tinmouth did?
CC:
Brilliant. I've been giving her some advice, for her to come here on a Superbike is phenomenal from a 125cc. She has only had limited experience on bigger bikes. To jump on the Rizla Suzuki with the amount of horse power that is has got….I mean 210hp is a lot to ride for me and I've been on it for the whole year. For her to jump on it, she has done a very good job and well done to her.
