PARKALGAR HONDA racer Miguel Praia posted the sixth fastest time on the opening day of the official three-day World Supersport test at the team’s home track in Portugal.

Following on from his good form at the two-day test at Almeria in Spain earlier this week, Portuguese ace Praia lapped the picturesque 4.592km Parkalgar Algarve Motor Park in the sixth fastest time of the day and was less than a second from fastest rider Juan Lascorz on a Kawasaki.

With rain in the morning and a damp track in the afternoon, conditions were less than ideal for Praia but he used his knowledge of the circuit and the improved performance of his Parkalgar Honda 2009 Supersport bike to show what he is capable of.

Parkalgar Honda rider Eugene Laverty took a steady approach building his confidence and finished the day 16th. The Irish rider made progress and took a minimum of risks.

Parkalgar Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “It has been wetter than we would have liked but that didn’t dampen Miguel’s performance, he was riding very well and on the pace with the front runners.

“Eugene would have preferred a dry track but he applied himself professionally and made good set-up progress which will benefit him over the next two days. There is plenty more to come from both our riders and the new 2009 Parkalgar Honda - and hopefully we will have dry weather tomorrow.”

For day-by-day reports on the Parkalgar Honda test, visit www.parkalgar-honda.com.

Supersport session two times:

1 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′49.046
2 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1′49.166
3 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1′49.366
4 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1′49.407
5 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′49.592
6 117 Praia M. (POR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1′49.941
7 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1′50.276
8 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1′50.496
9 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph 675 1′50.499
10 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph 675 1′51.067
16 50 Laverty E. (IRL) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1′53.098.