Laverty dedicates maiden victory to Craig Jones : Eugene Laverty- World Supersport Rider

14 March 09

Laverty dedicates maiden victory to Craig Jones

IRELAND’S Eugene Laverty celebrated his and the Parkalgar Honda team’s first World Supersport race victory at the second round of the Championship in Qatar – and revealed that he was confused by his pit board signals and didn’t realise he had won until World Champion Andrew Pitt told him during the cool-down lap.

Eugene led for 13 of the 18-laps and enjoyed a race-long battle with two World Champions - Andrew Pitt and Kenan Sofuoglu - finally winning the most dramatic of races in a last dash to the line. Parkalgar Honda Portuguese ace Miguel Praia took 12^th. The third round of the Championship takes place at Valencia in Spain on Sunday 5^th April.

Eugene: “I was a little confused by my pit board and mid-race I thought it said seventh. I dropped back from the lead and it said fourth so I got back on the pace. When I led again I read seventh and I just decided to get my head down and do my best to win on the track and see what happened later; so it wasn’t until the second turn on the cool-down lap when Andrew Pitt congratulated me on the victory that I realised I had won. We had discussed my pit-board signals before the race and it was my mistake and it’ll not happen again. It was a strange race because it was a lot easier to drive and follow than lead; but my Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR is brilliant and I was able to get good drive and pass Andrew early on the straight on the last lap to win. It is unbelievable that for the last couple of years I have been fighting for points and now I am winning a race on my second attempt with Parkalgar Honda and challenging for a World title. All I can say is thank you to the whole Parkalgar Honda team, Simon, Brains, everyone – not to mention the Parkalgar circuit, Ohlins, Motec and all the team partners. I dedicate this win to Craig Jones who did all the work bringing the team to this level.”

Miguel: “It was important for me that I finish the race after having two crashes in qualifying in just 10 minutes. That meant I didn’t have a good chance at qualifying and starting from 14^th was always going to be difficult in the race. I settled down into the race focussed on finishing but found I had good pace. I think I could have competed with the group in front fighting for seventh if I had got away a little quicker but overall I am happy with a good 12^th place. This has rebuilt my confidence for the next round at Valencia and I will see what I can do there.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “I can’t say enough good things about Eugene. At one point in the race he was looking over his shoulder and I wondered what he was doing – it turns out he was comfortable on the bike. He kept his cool under the most enormous pressure and won, it was a fantastic ride. What a job the boys in the team did to put the Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR under him, well done to Brains and the whole squad, I am proud of them all. It was a great team effort and I cannot thank our sponsors enough, in particular Paulo Pinheiro at the Parkalgar circuit because without him none of this would be possible. I am also pleased for Miguel finishing 12^th, equalling his best result of last year at only the second race in 2009. His confidence is back and he beat a lot of good riders and race winners today. I think he can take heart from that and go to Valencia realistically targeting the top 10 or maybe even a little better.”

Race Results

1 Laverty E. (IRL) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 37′06.285 (156,595 kph)
2 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 0.063
3 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 0.625
4 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 0.711
5 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 5.200
6 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 5.233
7 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 9.538
8 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 9.551
9 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 9.616
10 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 12.159
12 Praia M. (POR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 17.611

Championship Positions (after two of 14-rounds)

1 Pitt 40

2: Sofuoglu 38

3: LAVERTY, PARKALGAR HONDA 36

4: Crutchlow 29

5: West 23

6: Lagrive 15

7: Roccoli 15

8: Harms 12

9: Aitchison 11

10: McCoy 11

16: PRAIA, PARKALGAR HONDA 4.

Check out Eugene’s final diary entry on bikesportnews.com following his debut victory in the World Supersport Championship.

28 comments | Laverty dedicates maiden victory to Craig Jones

Dan Halford | March 15th, 2009 at 1:13 am

Congratulations on your maiden WSS win. That was a gutsy performance and I reckon it must have been all the sweeter to have beaten the two Ten Kate boys in the process.
I’ll be following this WSS season with interest, and I hope I’ll see a lot more rides like that again.

tomas dublin | March 15th, 2009 at 1:26 am

congratulations Eugene from all the guys on biker.ie
our very own rossi.

Mark Sydney | March 15th, 2009 at 1:42 am

Good on you mate. I watched it live in Sydney great race. All races should be as exciting.

Fred, Tyrone | March 15th, 2009 at 8:56 am

Well done Eugene!! Done everyone back home proud. Top class race form start to finish. Keep it up:-)

ivan colgan | March 15th, 2009 at 9:47 am

What a great race,well done Eugene,hope its the start of many wins.

Bernard | March 15th, 2009 at 11:53 am

Fantastic race Eugene, well done..keep them coming. I ust to live in Qatar, no one knew there where Ireland was !…they know now mate…Bernard (Dublin)

philip clancy | March 15th, 2009 at 2:04 pm

Fair play Eugene you were fantastic.I was jumping up and down watching it,it was brilliant to see the Tricolour and hear our anthem.Good on you Eugene,Well done..Philip

Steve Vasey | March 15th, 2009 at 3:04 pm

Ding Dong

La Freak

Colm Dublin. | March 15th, 2009 at 7:18 pm

Well done Eugene. It’s no more than you deserve. world champion 2009 is well within your grasp. good Luck to you.

Graham Dublin | March 16th, 2009 at 1:13 am

Great win Eugene. First of many to come! Was cool to see the tricolour and hear the Irish anthem. on paddys weekend aswell

Eric | March 16th, 2009 at 9:25 am

Congrats, great race, now watch every 600’s race since ya moved there end of last season. Cool to see flag behind ya on podium.

JARV | March 16th, 2009 at 9:40 am

Well done young man, you proved to everyone what we all knew. Everyone here is completely delighted for you. (jarvis)

Evs | March 16th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

Well done Eugene, great result and well raced under such pressure. After two years on uncompetitive machinery it’s nice to see your real potential. Now go and win the Championship. Good luck mate.

Big Man Andy | March 16th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

Well done boyo!

Liftin Irish spirits! Have a good Paddy’s day too kid.

Andy

Flynn | March 16th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Well done Eugene, keep up the good work.
Hopefully hearing our anthem at the races will become a common thing.

Best of luck for the season ahead, we`ll be on our sofa`s screaming at yea……

D.Flynn

jafo | March 16th, 2009 at 2:24 pm

well done eugene, keep her lit…..its bleedin great!!!

yellow peril | March 16th, 2009 at 2:29 pm

Well done Eugene, best of luck with the rest of the season.

James, Louth | March 16th, 2009 at 2:35 pm

Go’an the Norge

brilliant race, fantastic victory! fitting tribute!

Give it the berries in Valencia, were all with you!!!!

John Bourke, Co. Mayo | March 16th, 2009 at 4:15 pm

Well Holy God! Talk about winning in style beating Pitt AND Mickey Mouse second time of asking. That was amazing, been watching bike racing since 1988 and had tears in my eyes as the Tri-colour rose and Amhrann Na Bhfiann blared across the desert (Good version too!)
You are my new hero, finally someone worthy of replacing Doohan as my last hero

Ciaran O Callaghan, Cork | March 16th, 2009 at 4:27 pm

Well done lad! Keep her lit!!!

jer | March 16th, 2009 at 5:03 pm

HARDFOOKING CORE LAD……KEEP IT UP.I SCREAMED THE HOUSE DOWN WATUCHING UR RACING

joe domingues | March 17th, 2009 at 4:38 pm

Well done Eugene ,met you and the girlfriend at Portimao track..I knew you would do well..
Good for your Irish riders too well done again and the dedication was great to Craig Jones ..youre a good man ,all the best to you and Miguel this year from Joe Algarve roll on Prakalgar

Mervyn Smyth | March 17th, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Bloody brilliant Eugene, looking forward to seeing you live at Valencia

John Farrar (Wicklow) | March 17th, 2009 at 8:19 pm

brilliant race in Qatar. Edge of the seat stuff.
Congrats.
Roll on Valencia. “keep her lit!”

gixer joe Kilkenny | March 17th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

Fair play to ya dude
Feckin brilliant racing
Best of luck for the rest of the year

James | March 17th, 2009 at 10:26 pm

Congratulations! I saw the last bit on TV while at work. How fast were you going? Man I never saw cycle races much, but y’all were amazing. Truly professionals. I will never figure out how you lean over so far on turns. Thanks!!!

Brian Huey | March 18th, 2009 at 7:20 pm

Congratulations on you first victory in WSS, it most definetly was a great race to watch, a great win.

Jhone Cunnane | March 20th, 2009 at 10:33 pm

Fantastic stuff Eugene - nail-biting stuff indeed!! Now to teach the lads on Eurosport how to pronounce your name right lol!! Fair play - best of luck for the rest of the season!