PARKALGAR HONDA racers Eugene Laverty and Miguel Praia completed the first practice session at the third round of the World Supersport Championship at Valencia in Spain in 14th and 17th places respectively.
Under new money-saving rules with only one practice session on a Friday, the Parkalgar Honda riders took a measured approach to setting up their bikes ahead of further practice and qualifying sessions tomorrow. Kawasaki’s Juan Lascorz was fastest. The race takes place at 1325 CET on Sunday, April 5th.
Eugene
“We are down the order but I am happy with my current position, we are not lost by any means. We need to make some chassis changes and we have a good idea what direction they need to go as it is to combat an issue we found during pre-season testing. My Parkalgar Honda is not finishing the longer corners as I want it too and we think we know how to fix that. Lascorz is riding well and will take some catching but I think we will be up on the front two rows tomorrow, hopefully the front row. We won’t be far away, that’s for sure.”
Miguel
“I am not feeling so good - I contracted a huge cold earlier in the week and feel weak. I could not complete the laps I wanted as I simply didn’t have the power in my body. I am following the doctor’s orders and taking it as easy as possible in preparation for tomorrow. I am feeling a little better today and hopefully will be back to normal soon. I found it hard to jump back on the bike after not riding since Qatar. The circuit is very different to Qatar and Australia but we are working hard and I want to improve in qualifying. I rode on the hard tyre to save my soft ones which offer better grip here. I basically saved my energy and tyres ready to be feeling better tomorrow.”
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager
“There are no problems or dramas, we are in a good position going forward to final practice and qualifying. We are preparing and building towards the race as we did last time out in Qatar. I am confident that Eugene is focussed and with help from his mechanics will move forward tomorrow. Miguel has the flu but seems to be recovering and will hopefully be stronger for the rest of the weekend.”
Practice
1 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′36.672
2 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1′37.343
3 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′37.701
4 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1′37.834
5 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1′37.864
6 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1′37.893
7 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1′37.971
8 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′38.055
9 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 1′38.197
10 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′38.421
14 Laverty E. (IRL) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1′38.577
17 Praia M. (POR) PARKALGAR HONDA CR600RR 1′39.100.
