PARKALGAR HONDA racers Eugene Laverty and Miguel Praia adapted quickly to the demands of the new to the 2009 calendar Miller Motorsports Park in the USA, finishing second and ninth respectively after the opening day’s practice sessions for the seventh round of the World Supersport Championship.
Eugene was always in contention at the head of the timesheets but was just pipped to the top spot by Kawasaki’s Juan Lascorz. Miguel showed promise through the sessions at the 4.9km track near Salt Lake City in Utah, ending up a fighting ninth and within striking distance of the second row. A late crash for Miguel means he will have to pass a medical examination to ride tomorrow. Qualification takes place on Saturday May 30th followed by the race on Sunday, May 31st, which starts at 1925CET and can be viewed on Eurosport.
Eugene: “I like the track and got on with it right from the start in the first session. We then moved on and improved in the second session so I am happy. For the second session we went back to our normal chassis setting – a different set-up to what we used at Kyalami - and it is working well. We know what rear tyre we will use for the race and I will try a different front tyre in the morning, either will do the distance so it is going to be down to my preference. I am feeling confident as I am doing the same as Kyalami and running at the front from the very start of the weekend.”
Miguel: “I crashed right at the end of the session but I was not knocked out and feel better already. I will rest well tonight and will hopefully be passed fit to ride tomorrow. I am very happy with my Parkalgar Honda and the speed I have at this track, the chance for a top 10 result in the race is very real.”
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “That was a very good session for the Parkalgar Honda team, marred only by a very late crash for Miguel in the last minute of practice. He will have a medical tomorrow to see if he can ride – we hope he can as he is showing some of his best ever pace here. Eugene is competing at the top of the timesheets and everything is working well for him, the package is very good. He is showing he has the potential to win again this weekend.”
Practice
1: J Lascorz, ESP, Kawasaki 1:53.350
2: E LAVERTY, IRL, PARKALGAR HONDA 1:53.549
3: F Foret, FRA, Yamaha 1:53.573
4: K Sofuoglu, TUR, Honda 1:53.637
5: A Pitt, AUS, Honda 1:53.844
6: C Crutchlow, GBR, Yamaha 1:53.956
7: M Aitchison, AUS, Honda 1:54.333
8: G McCoy, AUS, Triumph 1:54.339
9: M PRAIA, POR, PARKALGAR HONDA 1:54.475
10: K Fujiwara, JPN, Kawasaki 1:54.598.
