Suzuki happy with race result

After high hopes coming into the weekend, yesterday's results in qualifying meant just to score points looked like an achievement. But the team and its riders bounced back to finish inside the top ten in seventh and eighth positions.

"I am really happy with the performance of the team and the riders today," said Suzuki team manager Paul Denning.

"A reasonable result looked like a lost cause at the end of yesterday, but the crew worked tirelessly to improve the settings of the bike, and hats off to Tom, Stuart, Sahara san and our factory engineers for getting the best out of the package today.

"But especially thanks to John and Chris who provided a performance today that, whilst we wouldn't normally shout about seventh and eighth, was a fantastic effort!

"The steps we've taken today allow us to leave Australia with an element of respect and some optimism that we are going to be able to challenge right at the front again over the final two events."

John Hopkins, who finished seventh, less than two seconds behind Randy de Puniet, was also pleased with the result, despite a move on the last lap for sixth place failing to come off.

"We did exactly what we wanted to do today - obviously I would have liked to have finished higher - but to get seventh from where we started is a good result. I got a great start and made a couple of places up round the outside and from there I just rode my own race.

"I lost a bit to the front group and tried to conserve the tyre a bit because we had chosen one of the softer compounds from our allocation. De Puniet came by me, but I then latched on to him and used him as a windbreak.

"It was good to see Melandri come back to us because I know how close we are in the championship so it was good to get past him later on and make up some more points. I tried to make a move on De Puniet on the last lap but made a mistake in turn one and that ruined any chance of getting past him.

"I really want to thank all my crew here at Suzuki as they worked their butts off this weekend to give me the best possible package for the race!"

Australian teammate Chris Vermeulen was not over the moon with his finish of eighth, but felt it was good after the lead-up to the race that the team had had.

"It's not great to finish in eighth, but it is a very good result from the weekend we've had. We've really struggled here both last year and this, but this year we have taken a big step and it's great to see that we have a direction to head in.

"If we improve the same next year we will be pushing for the front. Full credit to all my guys; Tom, Simon, Mats, Ray and Penny, they did a great job all weekend and worked their little hearts out! They gave me a great bike to race and now I can't wait to get to Malaysia."