PARKALGAR HONDA travels to Phillip Island in Australia ready to mount a title challenge for the World Supersport Championship with last year’s runner-up Eugene Laverty and the fast improving Miguel Praia.

Using brand new 2010 Honda CBR600R machinery the Parkalgar Honda team will take to the circuit on 21st and 22nd February for a test before returning for the opening round: practice starts on Friday 26th with further practice and qualifying on Saturday 27th and then race day on Sunday 28th February. For full behind-the-scenes reports and pictures, log on to www.performancetechnicalracing.com during the race weekend.

Eugene: “We had a good test at Parkalgar in Portugal last month and will be looking to continue that at Phillip Island ahead of the race. We’ll work a bit more on the chassis and front end of the bike. Overall we know we have a good wet and dry base set-up which is a step forward from our previous visit. Last year I didn’t expect to fight for the title and only really realised it was a possibility after round four at Assen. This year it is different, my team, Parkalgar Honda race bike and all the circuits and my competition - Lazcorz and Sofuoglu - are now familiar to me; they are known quantities. There is room for improvement from 2009 and we have achieved that and there is no reason I cannot win the race and lead the Championship right from the start. It’s gonna be good.”

Miguel: “The Phillip Island test will help me to fine-tune my Parkalgar Honda and learn a bit more about the new electronics package from Motec. I am comfortable with my bike and the team and working with my new Crew Chief Mark Woodage is good, he really motivates me and is helping to develop my knowledge of bike set-up. My winter season has been excellent and I am at my ideal weight of 65kgs. My target for the season is to help Parkalgar Honda and Eugene Laverty to win the World Supersport Championship and to get myself into the top 10 in the series. I need to develop the speed so I can help Eugene. I am feeling confident and looking forward to the start of the season.”

Simon Buckmaster, Team Manager: “After the test at Parkalgar last month the Parkalgar Honda team goes to Phillip Island in very good shape and deserving of the tag Championship favourite. We aim to start 2010 where we left off in 2009 which was dominating the final race and winning with Eugene. He has matured as a rider and now has a better understanding of the team, tracks, competitors and his own abilities, he is very strong. Miguel comes off the back of a good winter and positive test and has also benefited from a new Crew Chief, our realistic target is to get him into the top eight at Phillip Island and build form there, we have belief in him and the Parkalgar Honda package. We can’t wait to get racing, the Parkalgar Honda Championship challenge starts now.”

The final day at the Red Bull Diagnostics & Training Center was all about results following four days of testing, but rather than harsh words Eugene was happy to receive kind words from the DTC staff. He wraps up the trip in this his final instalment.

Eugene:

“The day began with a major hiccup as as I slept in after an alarm clock malfunction. Last night I’d set my alarm for 07.30 but having connected my phone to my computer the time shifted back one hour to GMT. Instead of taking one hour to get ready, eat breakfast, etc. I got myself up out of bed and into the car in less than ten minutes! Not a bad effort all things considered.

The strength tests seen out the remainder of the testing procedure. Once that was wrapped up it was time for the gruelling from those charge, or so I thought. Everybody I knew who’d been to the DTC had told me that you never leave the DTC with compliments, but I managed to which was pretty cool. Of course there’s loads of room for improvement, but as a starting point I’m in good shape.

I really enjoyed my time at the DTC and I’m looking forward to returning in a few months time. It’s great to work with people who can lay down facts in front of you in black and white about your body and tell you how to take the next step. I’ve had numerous fitness tests in universities and laboratories in Ireland, England and Spain but nothing as detailed as this. I love a bit of science, especially when it comes to training, so I soaked it all up and it’s embedded in my brain now along with everything else I’ve picked up over the years.

I’ll leave you with this tip: if you’re male and like me don’t speak a word of German, the door that says ‘Damen’ does not mean ‘Men’s toilets’. Yes it does include the same three letters than would lead you to think that this is the case, but upon inspection so does the word ‘Women’.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my ramblings, until next time… see ya!”

The toughest part of the testing is over for Eugene, after three hard days of testing he’s looking forward to hearing the results.  The DTC has a reputation for stern words so Eugene has prepared himself well for tomorrow’s reality check!

Eugene:

“At last I can go to bed tonight without having to worry about pushing myself to the absolute limit again tomorrow!  I’m really happy with how things are going here, they have so much experience working with top athletes and their training ethics are completely different to the normal line of thought.  Everything is so scientific, I love it!

Today I did the test on the bicycle.  This was hard work as I was riding for more than twenty minutes with the intensity increasing every time until my body said stop after a few minutes at 280watts.  I was so glad when it was over and fortunately it will be a good few months before I have to do that again!

In the afternoon I had an interview with the Red Bull Media House before we headed across to visit the Red Bull HQ just a few kilometres up the road.  Red Bull UK HQ has a slide beside the stairs which I thought was cool but in Austria the building is just incredible!

I’m back at the hotel now relaxing after dinner.  I will fly home tomorrow evening so it was cool to spend some hours chatting with Ralph and Daniel tonight.  Daniel is a really cool guy and I will keep track of his season in Brazil, we’re both fighting for championships so we’re in a similar position.

Be sure to drop by for my last instalment tomorrow.”

Eugene takes you through day two of his visit to the Red Bull DTC in Austria where the weather is even colder than what he’s used to back home in Northern Ireland!

Eugene:

“I had a nice lie-in this morning until 08.30 as my schedule at the DTC only kicked off at 09.45 today.  Again the day started with the tests in the lab before I began the main exercise.  This time I was tested on the ‘arm cycle’ until I couldn’t do anymore.  I’ve never really used a machine like that before so it was cool to see I could kick out 160 watts from my arms!  Just like yesterday I began at a low wattage which was then increased every three minutes.  It’s an awful feeling as you just know what’s ahead but they build you up slowly over thirty minutes, delaying the inevitable!

Afterwards I did some personality tests on the computer which again wore me down.  I was happy to get a Red Bull Cola and head back to the hotel before lunch with my new friend Daniel Serra.  I can now say that I know two really cool car drivers, the other being Ireland’s Kris Meeke.  Daniel is also here for testing, I thought I came a long way but he travelled from Brazil to get here!  It’s nice to have another Red Bull athlete here that I can hang out with, especially one that’s spot on.  Ralph Strampfer of Red Bull UK is also here looking after me so I’m fortunate to have good company.  If I was here all alone it would be a very lonely stay!

I’m off to watch a little AMA Supercross on my laptop before bed.  Tomorrow morning I’m not allowed breakfast before the body statistics test so I’ve set an alarm as late as possible otherwise my stomach could end up eating itself!  Night.”

Welcome to the first installment of Eugene Laverty’s four day diary from the Red Bull Diagnostics and Training Center.  Here he takes you through day one at the world-renowned facility near Salzburg, Austria.

Eugene:

“When I imagined the Red Bull DTC I pictured some place in the city but this place couldn’t be further out of the way!  It’s in a nice, quiet little area where you just wouldn’t expect such a place.  From the moment I heard of the DTC I wanted to go because of the depth of science involved with fitness testing and programming here.  It’s fair to say I’m not disappointed after day one as I’ve been prodded more times than a pin cushion and tested in areas right across the board.

Today started with some standard procedure tests in the laboratory before hitting the treadmill.  The speed was increased every three minutes and my little legs ran as fast as they could until they gave up the ghost after two minutes at 18kph.  I never knew I could run that fast!  However, the speed matters little.  It’s all in what the blood samples say.

Afterwards the physiotherapist checked me over with all sorts of scans from head to toe.  I doubt you could buy that sort of machinery in PC World!  Lastly I sat infront of a computer screen for an hour and a half solid doing psychology tests.  I felt mentally drained come the finish but I guess that’s kinda the idea!

Three more days lie ahead, some interesting stuff is going on between those walls but I wouldn’t expect anything less from Red Bull.  After all, they don’t do anything by half.  Drop by tomorrow for my second installment of the week.”

Eugene, his brother Michael and the infamous Neil “Tubman” Thompson up in Magilligan at Davy Mac’s MX track. This was the last time before the season starts that Eugene got to ride his new CRF 250 R supplied to him by Honda.

Eugene: ” I enjoy riding motocross from time to time for training purposes and for fun during the off season. We have a great track on the north coast of Ireland owned by our friend Davy McCullough. It’s a perfect practice track as it’s sand-based so we can ride no matter what the weather.”

To view video go to Eugene’s ‘Video’ section.

T9 Images copyright the video contact neil_mckeown@hotmail.com.