Eugene Laverty kicks off his 2010 World Supersport campaign in promising style as he tops the Portimao three-day test.

Last year’s World Supersport Championship runner-up Eugene Laverty reminded rivals he will be the man to beat this season after snatching the fastest time of the Portimao three-day test.

The Irishman had cut a relatively low profile over the course of the weekend thus far, but stepped up in the concluding session to set a time of 1min 45.104secs.

As well as being the fastest lap of the session, Laverty’s time was also the best of the weekend as a whole, the Parkalgar Honda man going a tenth faster than Kawasaki’s Joan Lascorz.

Eugene Said “This test was the perfect way to start the 2010 season. I finished the season with a victory and today I’m back in first position. The most postive thing for me to take from this test is the fact that I  also was quickest in the one session that was completely wet. Last year we struggled a lot in the wet but now we are prepared for the rain when it comes! We will test at Phillip Island before the first race there so I’m looking forward to working on improving our setting further.”

Laverty’s team-mate Miguel Praia was also impressively fast around his home circuit in fourth, ahead of Katsuaki Fujiwara, whose best time from Friday was enough to see him end the test fifth overall.

First World Supersport Rcae is on the 28th Febuary in Australia at Phillip Island.

Eugene speaks with Jim Race of MotoGPod about pre-season testing. Also what it was like winning  Adelaide Irish Motorcyclist of the Year award. listen to the in-depth interview on http://www.motogpod.com/episode/episode-211-go-go-go-jim-racer

The quiet period is over as we head to Portimao for the first test of the 2010 campaign. You know what’s great? I’ve stayed put so it’s just like an extension of the 2009 season! I’m flying to Stansted to meet up with the team and all I’ve got is my luggage; all my racing kit stayed in the workshop over the winter as there was no need to move it! This changing teams lark is overrated in my book, all it does is create hassle. I’m really looking forward to getting on my CBR again, last time I rode it was back in October at the same circuit when I dominated the race so I’m looking forward to picking up where I left off.

My CRF250 motocross bike arrived at the weekend thanks to Honda. It’s still sat in the garage in pristine condition but I can’t see that lasting long, sorry Honda! We have an mx weekend planned for the end of January when I return from this test. My mate Tubman who races mx is talking about getting someone to gather some video footage of us riding but I’m not sure if that’s such a good idea as I’m rusty as hell! I knocked motocross on the head in the middle of last season and haven’t ridden since.

I guess I ought to mention the fact that I won the accolade of Irish Motorcyclist of the Year last week. I really was delighted to pick up the award, not so much for myself but for the sponsors that backed me through two tough years in GPs and are still supporting me. The past few years I’ve sat with them throughout the entire awards ceremony only getting up to go to the bathroom so it made a nice change for them to see me headed towards the stage this year to pick up my awards instead!

As for the season ahead I’ve never been more confident. Same bike, same team, same tracks. I only have one goal and that is to lift the World Supersport crown come season’s end. This is my year! Joan Lascorz and Kenan Sofuoglu won’t make life easy for me though. It’s a three horse race this one, just look at the latter half of last season and you’ll see what I mean.

I’ll keep you all posted during the test through my ‘Twitter’ updates. If you aren’t already following, get involved!

Eugene

Eugene Laverty was named Adelaide Irish Motorcyclist of the Year for the first time at the Irish Racer Awards in Belfast on Friday night.

Laverty, who finished second in the World Supersport championship, came home ahead of runner-up Jonathan Rea and third-placed Ryan Farquhar. Farquhar won the National Road Racer award and the Team Award for Team KMR.

Steve Plater was top International Road Racer, Laverty top short circuit Rider and Jamie Hamilton best young rider.
Gary Cowan was inducted into the Hall of Fame and special guests Loris Capirossi and Cal Crutchlow won Special Awards.
Ian Lowry won the Short Circuit Merit Award and Rea was awarded the Fans’ Race of the Year for his World Superbike win at Misano.