PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty crashed out on lap three at the Melbourne Loop, remounted in 26th and brilliantly fought his way back to fifth at Donington Park in the UK at the ninth round of the World Supersport Championship.
Parkalgar Honda racer Miguel Praia was in 11th and going for the top 10 when he crashed out at Redgate on lap nine. He remounted but was forced to retire due to damage to his bike. Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow won the race. The next round of the Championship is at Brno in the Czech Republic on July 26th.
Eugene: “My Parkalgar Honda’s rear wheel spun up, came round and I slid off. This was a problem we found yesterday in practice and thought we had cured it but the temperatures are different today and that might have made the difference. I got back on and gave it my all to get back in the points from 26th. There were a lot of yellow flags and after passing people I had to let them go through again before taking the position back which made it tough. I am now 28-points behind Cal in the Championship but that’s a lot better than recording a DNF. Donington Park hasn’t been kind to us but it could have been a lot worse.”
Miguel: “I lost the front of my bike going into Redgate corner. It is frustrating as I had just got into 11th and was pushing hard to get to the group in front that was fighting for sixth. I really wanted to be there and pushed very hard - in previous laps I was following other riders into that corner and when by myself I was much faster. I needed to go for the better result, I felt confident and my Parkalgar Honda was excellent. It is a shame but we will learn from this and be stronger at the next round.”
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “It was disappointing that Eugene slid off at such an early point but it was sensational how he fought his way from 26th to fifth - after the crash there is nothing more you could have asked of him, it was a fantastic ride. Miguel was challenging the top 10 again and then braked harder for Redgate than ever before - two-bar more pressure on the lever - and crashed. We are 28-points behind with five rounds to go - all it takes is one mistake by Cal Crutchlow and we are right back in it.”
Race Result
1 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 34′15.876 (154,981 kph)
2 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 5.391
3 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 14.918
4 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 22.248
5 50 Laverty E. (IRL) PARKALGAR HONDACBR600RR 37.054
6 77 Veneman B. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 39.079
7 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 39.978
8 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 42.733
9 9 Dell’Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 43.030
10 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 47.422
DNF: PRAIA PARKALGAR HONDA
Championship Positions (after nine of 14-rounds)
1: Crutchlow 185
2: Laverty PARKALGAR HONDA 157
3: Sofuoglu 121
4: Lascorz 106
5: Pitt 79
6: West 75
7: Foret 63
8: Aitchison 61
9: McCoy 55
10: Pirro 49
18: Praia PARKALGAR HONDA 18.
