PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty will head the second row in fifth place while Miguel Praia starts from 14th on the grid for tomorrow’s opening round of the World Supersport Championship at the picturesque Phillip Island circuit in Australia.
Both riders adapted their Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR race bikes from yesterday and reduced their lap times in the cool but dry qualifying session. Honda’s Kenan Sofuoglu will start from pole position. The race starts at 0325 CET on Sunday, March 1st.
Eugene: “On my fast lap I was on for third but ran off-line at the hairpin and ended up fifth; I am happy enough with that, heading the second row is a good place to be. Overnight we changed the gearing and that was a big improvement on my Parkalgar Honda. We also tried a new setting on my rear shock that helped. My riding is right on the pace and I am as consistent as anyone for the race - posting the same lap times as second place Lascorz on race rubber. My launch control is working well and the plan is to get away with the lead group and see what happens. It would be nice to step onto the podium but the top five or six and I’ll be happy.”
Miguel: “My lap time is very good compared to last year and I honestly thought it would have been good enough for the top 10 but I ended up 12th fastest in second qualifying and 14th overall. I am just 2/10ths of a second outside the top 10; that is nothing and I am in a good position to be racing within the top 10 which is my aim. I am happy with the settings on my bike and we made some chassis alterations today to deal with the cooler and windier conditions that worked. I am a better racer than qualifier so I am looking forward to the race.”
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “It has been a strong qualifying result from both riders and a good day for the Parkalgar Honda team. Eugene is right in the thick of it and the top three in the race will come from the top five in qualifying so he has a great chance. Miguel is 1.8secs faster than his best lap last year which is incredible and a big improvement; he should be comfortably in the points and targeting the top 10. We are carrying on the positive momentum from the tests; I am pleased with the whole team effort.”
Final Qualifying
1 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1′34.320
2 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′34.689
3 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′34.786
4 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1′34.875
5 Laverty E. (IRL) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1′34.962
6 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1′35.063
7 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1′35.086
8 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1′35.187
9 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′35.263
10 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1′35.401
14 Praia M. (POR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1′35.680.
