PARKALGAR HONDA’S Miguel Praia posted the fourth fastest time during the second day of the official World Supersport test at the team’s home Parkalgar Algarve Motor Park circuit near Portimao in Portugal – while Eugene Laverty made a dramatic improvement to finish sixth quickest.
Portuguese local Miguel has started 2009 with real enthusiasm, challenging at the Almeria test for top honours earlier in the week and then posting a top six time yesterday. In today’s dry afternoon session he stepped up another gear to take fourth – a full one-second faster than his race best at the same track just over two months ago.
Miguel said: “I have worked hard on my fitness and preparation over the winter and the new 2009 Parkalgar Honda is very good. We are still working on developing the bike and I am very confident we can keep on improving. My lap time is much better than the race here in November, which is very encouraging.”
Parkalgar Honda racer Eugene Laverty benefited from following Miguel for a number of laps to learn the circuit turning points and braking markers. The Irishman improved from 16th yesterday to sixth today, less than three-quarters of a second behind fastest man Juan Lascorz on a Kawasaki.
“Thank you to Miguel for giving me a tow for a couple of laps, it really helped me to get to grips with the track,” explained Eugene. “I tried two different fork settings settings and found a big improvement. It has been a good day and now I am within touching distance of the front runners I am much happier.”
Tomorrow is the final day of the test and rain is forecast, although the Parkalgar Honda team is hoping it will remain dry so it can pursue further dry lap time improvements.
Parkalgar Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “Miguel is absolutely flying and the team is really upbeat that he is riding so well. He also helped Eugene and that is something we all value – we are a team, not two teams within one. Eugene has improved dramatically by simply concentrating on his own riding and now has a better direction on his bike as well. We hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow, but already this has been a fantastic test for the team, with both riders in the top six – well done to everyone.”
A report on the final day of testing will be available tomorrow (Sunday 25th Jan), along with photographs at www.parkalgar-honda.com
Saturday Second Timed Session
1 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′45.214
2 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1′45.264
3 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1′45.397
4 117 Praia M. (POR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1′45.757
5 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′45.817
6 50 Laverty E. (IRL) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1′45.960.
