PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty leapt from provisional fifth to pole position in final qualification for the 11th round of the World Supersport Championship at Nurburgring in Germany, showing real class and pace whilst Miguel Praia improved his lap times but dropped to 15th.
Laverty must beat Sofuoglu in tomorrow’s race to keep the pressure on in the title fight; he is currently second in the standings just 17-points behind with three races remaining. The race takes place at 1330 local time on Sunday 5th September.
Eugene: “We needed to get an advantage over the Turk and we did that. I made six laps within 2/10ths of each other and well over one-second faster than yesterday. We have made a good step with my Parkalgar Honda and my riding. We have played with the gearing as it is a bit of a compromise around here and also with the geometry of the bike. My Honda has improved a lot completing the corner and is nimble while providing excellent feedback from the rear. I think the race will be between Kenan and myself; he wants to win the race and has shown that so it should be a good battle between the pair of us at the front.”
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Eugene was very good today and completed several 1m58secs laps in a row which is impressive and shows his class. He has sorted out any issues with his bike and riding and is going to be battling for another win and keeping as much pressure as possible on Kenan. Miguel is not where he should be in 15th – if he had timed his final run better and got another lap or two on a new tyre he should have achieved the top 10 - that is where we expect him to finish in the race.”
Final Qualifying
1 50 E. LAVERTY IRL Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′58.415
2 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′58.557
3 23 B. PARKES AUS Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′58.617
4 37 K. FUJIWARA JPN Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′58.654
5 4 G. REA GBR Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 1′59.110
6 25 D. SALOM ESP ParkinGO BE1 Triumph Triumph Daytona 675 1′59.277
7 99 F. FORET FRA Team Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′59.374
8 51 M. PIRRO ITA HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′59.381
9 55 M. ROCCOLI ITA Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 1′59.492
10 18 M. AITCHISON AUS Kuja Racing Honda CBR600RR 1′59.895
15 117 M. PRAIA POR Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 2′00.213.
