WITH rain falling at the start of qualifying and the Misano circuit in San Marino drying throughout the rest of the session, Parkalgar Honda’s Eugene Laverty rode intelligently in the difficult conditions to qualify eighth on the second row of the grid for tomorrow’s eighth round of the World Supersport Championship.
Miguel Praia contested the top 10 for much of the session but as the track dried rapidly towards the end he lost out to other riders ended 16th on the fourth row of the grid. Yamaha’s Michele Pirro took pole position in front of his home crowd. The race takes place at 1325CET on Sunday and can be watched on Eurosport orwww.worldsbk.com.
Eugene: “The weather played havoc with qualifying and I didn’t do anything silly. I was held up on my last fast lap when I really went for it but with conditions changing all the time it paid to be cautious. I am happy that my Parkalgar Honda is working really well. We tried a different rear setting here after Salt Lake and it worked well this morning in free practice when I was third. It helps me to ride the bike when on worn tyres which is good. Eighth is fine, I am OK with the second row, there aren’t many guys I need to pass in front of me. The first corner is very close so it may be the second corner before I can start making passes. Whatever the weather throws at us for the race I’ll be ready for it.”
Miguel: “That was a crazy session. It started well with the team getting me out at the front of the pack and I was able to get two dry laps before the rain really fell, putting me ninth. I thought it would stay wet but with strong winds it dried out in the last 10-minutes and I missed the window of opportunity to set a faster lap time as the rain came back with two or three minutes to go. It is a little disappointing as I thought I would start from ninth but these conditions are the very worst for me so 16th is not so bad. I am really confident for the race and want to get a good start and into the top 10. My Parkalgar Honda is ace and my team has been very helpful this weekend, we deserve a good result.”
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Miguel got out early and set a good time but as the track dried out he missed the window of opportunity to keep the position as other riders went faster. He is still in a good place for the race and certainly has the speed to get into the top 10 if all goes to plan. Eugene got out on track at the right time at the end and got on the second row which will put him right in the fight for the race. It was difficult conditions for qualifying and with one eye on the title race he didn’t want to risk a stupid crash in qualifying, there aren’t any points awarded today. I think Eugene will be fighting with Cal Crutchlow and maybe Juan Lascorz, Andrew Pitt and Kenan Sofuoglu for the race win tomorrow.”
Qualifying
1 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1′40.498
2 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1′40.508
3 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1′40.509
4 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′40.994
5 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 1′41.109
6 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′41.425
7 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′41.458
8 Laverty E. (IRL) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1′41.459
9 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1′41.666
10 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′41.963
16 Praia M. (POR) PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1′43.707
