Check out www.motogpod.com for an in-depth interview with Eugene following his fifth place finish at Phillip Island. Jim Race takes up the interview 49 minutes into the podcast in the latest episode #167. Skip through and listen to Eugene in what is his third appearance on motogpod’s internet radio show.

I’d said I was aiming for a top 5 at Phillip Island and I achieved just that. In honesty I achieved more than expected, I lead the race for a handful of laps and finished just one second from the race win. The race was a cracker with a group of 15 at the front. That’s unheard of in World Championship racing! I got an average start but dropped to 9th on lap two. I worked my way to the front by lap 6 though as I could see the pace wasn’t so hot which allowed a huge train of riders to remain intact. The Ten Kate boys were looking after their tyres for a push at the end whereas I wanted to guarantee a top 5 so I made an attempt to split the group. In the end there were just the five of us which was a relief. A huge group together at the finish is never pleasant as one mistake could have cost three positions instead of one. Unfortunately I did make just one small error within a stone’s throw from the line; it cost me two points but that’s racing. On the final lap I exited the final turn in 4th but just touched the dirt on the run to the finish allowing Cal Crutchlow to edge me out by 0.001sec. The important thing was that we showed just how strong a force we’re going to be and I’m sure we’ll be fighting for the win in Qatar.

I sure am looking forward to getting home. I left Melbourne airport at 20.30 Monday evening and 30 hours later I’m nearly back in Ireland. Now I’d been on a double decker bus before but today was my first time on a double decker plane. Blew my mind it did, reminds me of how I felt when I experienced my first McDonald’s drive-thru. Fourth and final flight from Heathrow to Belfast is the shortest thanks to be God; I don’t think I could manage another seven hour flight.

I’ll watch the race back when I arrive home so that I can close that chapter and start thinking about Qatar. I have almost six days at home before I leave for round two so I’m gonna take two to recover then put in four days of training. My brother Michael is racing at Daytona this week so I’m really looking forward to watching his race on TV. It’ll be on Thursday evening UK time so I’ll sit back with a brew and enjoy. When I say enjoy I really mean be a nervous wreck from start to finish! I don’t get nervous when I’m racing but watching my brothers gets me pretty stressed. I don’t think I could manage watching my kids race so I’m certainly not going to be a pushy parent.

I hope you all enjoyed watching the hectic race at Phillip Island, great way to kickstart the season!

See ya,

Eugene

PARKALGAR HONDA racer Eugene Laverty diced for the victory at the opening round of the World Supersport Championship, eventually finishing fifth just one-second behind winner Honda’s Kenan Sofuoglu at Phillip Island in Australia.

Laverty led the race and was in contention right until the chequered flag. Parkalgar Honda racer Miguel Praia was in 10^th place on lap three when he crashed at the Honda Hairpin unhurt. The next round of the Championship is at the Losail circuit in Qatar on Saturday 14^th March.

Eugene: “I got an average start and was back in ninth but within four laps I was leading the race. My Parkalgar Honda is very fast, I was able to blast past many riders. In a straight line we are fit to pass anyone and it is now handling as good as any other bike, it is looking like it could be a good year. The race is the first time I have done a distance run on the bike and to live with the front runners who had all tested here was great. I made only one error the whole race on the final corner. I touched the dirt and that allowed Cal Crutchlow to pass me and take fourth. I wasn’t expecting to be this close to the front at the opening round, this weekend a race win was not part of my plan it was to achieve the top six. Even when I led it was to try and break the pack up as I knew Andrew and Kenan would come back at me. But now I have a different plan for Qatar and it is to win the race. We have a good haul of points from here, I am happy.”

Miguel: “I made a good start to the race and on my second lap I posted 1:35.4secs which was the quickest at the time, the fifth fastest of the race and 2secs faster than my lap time from last year. I was riding well and with confidence but with a full tank of fuel which caused some problems and on lap three I made a mistake and went into the Honda Hairpin too fast and touched with Robin Harms and crashed out unhurt. With the lap time I have proved I can stay with the front runners and maybe even make the top five. My Parkalgar Honda is so good I now need to be not so aggressive in the first laps. Previously I have had to fight hard to get into the points but now I am in a new position and level and I must make a more relaxed start on the first laps, make my position and start from there. I am confident for the coming season.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “It was a good race with Eugene dicing for the lead. We clearly have one of the fastest bikes out there that is as good as anything and bar a small mistake at the final corner Eugene would have been fourth. He is a Championship contender as we knew he would be and we can build from here. Miguel made a mistake and crashed on lap three. He looked as though he could have scored in the top 10 and is carrying his momentum from testing; now he needs to turn his proven pace into results. Miguel dislikes this track but favours Qatar so we don’t have to wait long to see what he can do there. It’s been a good weekend for the team and everyone has worked very hard and professionally together, well done!”

R1 Phillip Island Race Result

1 - Kenan Sofuoglu - HANNspree Ten Kate Honda - 33′42.156
2 - Andrew Pitt - HANNspree Ten Kate Honda - 33′42.216
3 - Anthony West - Stiggy Racing Honda - 33′42.309
4 - Cal Crutchlow - Yamaha World Supersport Team - 33′43.253
5 - Eugene Laverty - PARKALGAR HONDA - 33′43.254

6 - Mark Aitchison - HANNspree Honda Althea - 33′45.787
7 - Fabien Foret - Yamaha World Supersport Team - 33′47.179
8 - Joan Lascorz - Kawasaki Motocard.com - 33′51.696
9 - Massimo Roccoli - Intermoto Czech - 33′56.255
10 - Gianluca Nannelli - ParkinGO Triumph BE1 - 33′56.358

DNF – Miguel Praia – PARKALGAR HONDA.

Championship Points after one of 14 rounds

1 - K. Sofuoglu - 25
2 - A. Pitt - 20
3 - A. West - 16
4 - C. Crutchlow - 13
5 - E. Laverty – PARKALGAR HONDA 11
6 - M. Aitchison - 10
7 - F. Foret - 9
8 - J. Lascorz - 8
9 - M. Roccoli - 7
10 - G. Nannelli – 6.