PARKALGAR HONDA racers Eugene Laverty and Miguel Praia left the team’s home track of Portimao frustrated with an 11th and DNF to show for their efforts but confident that they will do better at the next round of the World Supersport Championship.
Laverty led for the first 15-laps of the race before dicing with rivals Kenan Sofuoglu on a Honda and Joan Lascorz on a Kawasaki. He crashed out of third on lap 17 but remounted to take 11th on a severely damaged bike. Praia was enjoying the best race of his career, fighting for seventh place when his bike lost power suddenly on the same lap as his team mate crashed. The third round of the World Championship is at Valencia in Spain in two-week’s time on Sunday 11th April.
Miguel: “I was comfortable riding with Fujiwara and Foret and was preparing to make a big effort on the last laps to go for the places in front – fifth was possible I think – when my bike lost power suddenly and unexpectedly. The good news is that I made a strong start, I think running fifth in the first corners. I was then able to ride with the group fighting for fifth to eighth and our race pace was better than qualifying so we have some big positives to take with us for the rest of the season; it shows what we can achieve. For the fans that came here to support us – thank you very much.”
Eugene: “That didn’t go to plan and at the start I struggled a little with a full tank of fuel. I had the lead so I pushed hard and used the best part of the tyre trying to get away but Lazcorz and Sofuoglu came back at me. When they passed me I was trying hard to stay with them and drove hard out of turn three up to the blind turn four. I just touched the kerb slightly but that was enough to lose the front end. I picked my Parkalgar Honda up and thankfully we operate a strategy that uses the very best parts to survive any crashes and it was rideable. I was losing brake pressure as the master cylinder had emptied so I was lucky the race finish was only a couple of laps later and glad to take 11th. Thanks to all the Portuguese fans and my team for their support, these points could make a big difference at the end of the season in the title race.”
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Miguel was riding his best race and competing further up the field than ever before so we are sorry that he was not able to finish. Eugene was fighting at the front of the race for the win and crashed out while pushing hard. We expect him to push hard and go for the win every weekend. He did well to pick up a much damaged bike and race to 11th place. We didn’t get the results we wanted or deserved this weekend but the attitude from the riders and the team is to never give up and we will learn from this and be stronger at Valencia. Thank you to the circuit and the fans for making us so welcome here.”
Race Result
1: Sofuoglu
2: Lascorz +0.031
3: Pirro +8.879
4: Davies +15.270
5: Foret +22.096
6: Fujiwara +23.041
7: Harms +30.830
8: Rea +35.171
9: Roccoli +35.225
10: Salom +35.239
11: LAVERTY PARKALGAR HONDA +49.540
DNF: PRAIA PARKALGAR HONDA
Championship Positions (after two of 13 rounds)
1: Sofuoglu 41
2: Lascorz 40
3: LAVERTY PARKALGAR HONDA 30
4: Foret 22
5: Salom 19
6: Harms 18
13: PRAIA PARKALGAR HONDA 7
