PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty left the official World Supersport test at the Parkalgar Algarve Motor Park circuit near Portimao in Portugal on a high and in sixth place overall.

The Irish rider has been adapting well to his new team and his all new 2009 CBR600RR Honda Supersport machine.

Having spent two seasons racing in 250 GPs Laverty had to get his head round a very different machine. He said: “I’ve not ridden a Supersport bike since 2006 and the geometry in the new Honda is totally different to how it was then. It almost felt like a different machine entirely so we just had to get the balance right. Initially I was struggling to understand the bike then we went in a totally different direction and it worked. It was then a case of digging in and working more on learning the bike. We made a lot of progress at the official test.”

The Parkalgar Honda team tested the 2008 bikes in November and then hit the ground running with the 2009 bike at Almeria before taking in the official test giving Laverty a chance to weight up both bikes.

He continued: “The 2008 bike is very similar to the 2009 one there really isn’t much of a difference. We are definitely up to scratch on the speed front with the 2009 bike we’ve got the same pace as the opposition so that is good. The throttle response is really smooth and better than when we tested the 2008 bike back in November. Having been on 250’s for two seasons I’ve had to change my riding style a bit and with my Parkalgar Honda I need to carry more corner speed.”

With two tests under his belt the Irish man is brimming with confidence. Laverty said: “I’m definitely confident after the official test. Everything has improved we’ve got a great electronics package too with Motec and the traction control is working well. We are not lacking anywhere it is a good package all round. We’ve solved all the problems that we set out to solve and I can’t wait for Phillip Island. I think my Parkalgar Honda will work well in the long fast corners.”