PARKALGAR HONDA racer Eugene Laverty finished fourth in roasting hot 35-degree temperatures during today’s first practice for the eighth round of the World Supersport Championship at the Misano circuit in San Marino, Italy.

Miguel Praia ended practice 21st quickest on his Parkalgar Honda. Championship leader Cal Crutchlow was fastest ahead of tomorrow’s practice and qualifying sessions. The race takes place at 1325CET on Sunday and can be watched on Eurosport or www.worldsbk.com [http://www.worldsbk.com/].

Eugene: “The session finished good for us in the end after we made a big change to my Parkalgar Honda half-way through, just in case it rains tomorrow. We really needed a harder spring in the forks and it worked well through the faster parts but I then lost a little time on the slower sections like the hairpin. I stayed out for the end of the session to get plenty of data and we know what we need to do to improve.”

Miguel: “That was very hot and hard; it was not the best session for me. Without training all week and still recovering from my injured left leg, I managed the first 45-minutes around the top 15 and then in the last 15-minutes was completely tired. Tomorrow’s sessions are 45-minutes so it will not be a problem. I will rest well now, my leg is painful, especially when changing direction but the doctors are helping me to recover. We are just 0.1seconds away from my fastest time in 2008 already which is good and with help from Eugene’s data I know we will perform better tomorrow.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “It is warm here with the track temperature over 50-degrees and that took its toll on Miguel who is struggling to be fit. He will rest tonight and be focussed on improving - the Parkalgar Honda technicians will compare data tonight and he will benefit from Eugene’s settings. Eugene is on the pace and as ever is building his effort across the weekend. He knows where he is losing time to the three riders ahead of him and how to get it back so we can expect him to be contesting the front row in qualifying. He also ran both tyres in case it rains tomorrow and has an idea which he will use if Sunday is a dry race.”

Practice Times

1 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1′39.442 
2 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′39.821 
3 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1′39.895 
4 Laverty E. (IRL) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1′40.355 
5 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1′40.560 
6 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′40.592 
7 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′40.673 
8 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1′40.676 
9 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1′40.981 
10 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′40.984 
21 Praia M. (POR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1′41.962