YUKI FAST AND FEARLESS AT CADWELL PARK
28 August 2004 - Rizla-Suzuki

RIZLA SUZUKI ace Yukio Kagayama took a fearless third place during today''s free practice for the 11th round of the Think! British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park - the scene of the horrific accident one year ago that nearly ended his career.

Yuki shrugged off any concerns about his ability to race at the Lincolnshire circuit by building up his speed steadily through today''s two one-hour long practice sessions. The Japanese Factory Suzuki rider, who broke his pelvis in two places in an accident here last year and is still recovering, is determined to try and get on the rostrum in both races.

Rizla Suzuki racer and Championship leader John Reynolds just eclipsed Yuki by finishing in second place and within a fraction of fastest man on the day Michael Rutter on a Honda.

Both Rizla Suzuki team mates got through a host of tyre and set-up tests today and are confident there is major progress to be made tomorrow.

Racing starts at 12:15pm on Bank Holiday Monday at the 2.18-mile long Cadwell Park venue, which is renown as one of the most popular events on the British Superbike calendar, with more than 35,000 spectators expected to attend. It will be screened live on Sky Sports and a highlights programme shown on the BBC one week later.

Yuki:
''Many people ask me today how I feel about coming back to Cadwell Park after big accident last year. I honestly think this is no problem, I am professional racer and it is another circuit I will race on and want to win. I am not sure of the meaning of strange English word - fear? This I do not understand.

''I work on trying to find fast lines and this is main priority for tomorrow. I have not enough experience of circuit and so far no consistency because I am not so sure of braking markers and corners. I follow John-san at end of session and this helps me with learning circuit. My team makes bike handle sweet, which is good. Tomorrow, we make even better with small adjustment to forks.''

JR:
''I''m enjoying myself. I have been using both my bikes and doing some back-to-back testing and making good progress. One thing that is really impressing me is the engine on my Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000, it is absolutely fantastic. My technicians must have been working hard since Croft because this bike is accelerating like there''s no tomorrow.

''I''ll be altering fork and steering damper settings for tomorrow and then finishing off tyre testing before having a crack at an outright lap time. There are hordes of fans here cheering me on already and I cannot tell you how much that lifts me. Thanks for coming!''

Saturday Free Practice:
1: Michael Rutter (Honda) 1:29.115
2: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.030
3: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.253
4: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +0.408
5: Sean Emmett (Ducati) +0.623
6: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.688
7: Gary Mason (Yamaha) +0.932
8: Dean Thomas (Ducati) +0.953
9: James Haydon (Yamaha) +1.103
10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +1.091

www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk

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