PARKALGAR HONDA star Eugene Laverty comfortably won his fifth race from eight starts at Misano in Italy and claimed the lead in the World Supersport Championship by three points while his team mate Miguel Praia enjoyed a career best equalling ninth.

In glorious sunshine Eugene took the lead on lap three and controlled the race until the chequered flag while Miguel was involved in a race long battle for ninth. The ninth round of the World Supersport Championship takes place at Brno in the Czech Republic on July 11th. For more information on the team visit www.eugenelaverty.com .

Eugene: “Early on in the race I bided my time as I didn’t want to make any silly mistakes, then I got into the lead and kept pushing. When Kenan made a mistake I went for it. My Parkalgar Honda was spot on; we made a break-through on front end feel in warm-up and then we improved it again for the race – we got the bike doing exactly what I wanted it to do so it’s a big thank you to the whole team. It is a relief and weight off my shoulders to be back in the lead of the Championship. I got to within one point and it reminded me of last year when I got close but it always went away from me so it’s nice to get into the lead where we belong and to have five wins out of eight races.”

Miguel: “That is my equal best result of my career so I am happy. I was comfortable although it was a hard hot race. I lost a little time at the start and that meant I missed the tow to the group fighting for sixth – eighth. The times were close and I think if I had got the start then I could have competed for those places. My Parkalgar Honda was absolutely fantastic and when I got in front of Salom I made a break with some quick laps so he couldn’t overtake me on the last lap. I think it has been a good race meeting.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Eugene rode great, it was a flawless race. The three usual riders were at the front but Kenan made a couple of mistakes and that allowed us a comfortable win. It is nice to be back in the lead of the World Championship for the first time since the opening round but there are five rounds still to go and may the best man win. Miguel rode the best race of his career in my opinion, he deserved ninth place. It could have been better if he had got away faster but nothing can be taken away from him, he did a good job and it’s been a great day for the whole Parkalgar Honda team.”

Race Result

1. Eugene Laverty?(Parkalgar Honda)?36′46.369

2. Joan Lascorz?(Kawasaki Motocard.com)?36′50.245

3. Kenan Sofuoglu?(HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)?36′52.926

4. Chaz Davies?(ParkinGO Triumph BE1)?36′59.184

5. Roberto Tamburini?(Bike Service R.T.)?36′59.296

6. Robbin Harms?(Harms Benjan Racing)?37′00.617

7. Massimo Roccoli?(Intermoto Czech)?37′06.010

8. Fabien Foret?(Team Lorenzini by Leoni)?37′10.729

9. Miguel Praia?(Parkalgar Honda)?37′22.629

10. David Salom?(ParkinGO BE1 Triumph)?37′22.967

Championship Positions (after eight of 13 rounds)

1: Laverty PARKALGAR HONDA 161

2: Sofuoglu 158

3: Lascorz 148

4: Davies 97

5: Salom 64

6: Harms 61

7: Pirro 58

8: Rea 54

9: Lagrive 49

10: Fujiwara 48

13: Praia PARKALGAR HONDA 38.

PARKALGAR HONDA ace Eugene Laverty will start from a strong second place on the grid for tomorrow’s eighth round of the World Supersport Championship at Misano in Italy after being pipped to pole position in the dying seconds by Michele Pirro.

Miguel Praia will start from 12th on the second Parkalgar Honda and is riding well. With perfect weather conditions predicted, the race is scheduled for 1330 CET on Sunday, June 27th. Keep up-to-date with all news on www.eugenelaverty.com.

Eugene: “I am happy enough; when I did that lap I knew it was good for the front row and then on my last fast lap I came upon traffic. Second is positive, especially with Kenan is on the second row. I had a set-back this morning and lost time when a backmarker took me out but we got back out and continued to work on front end set-up. Everyone is in the same situation here trying to make the best front end setting possible but I am happy now with my Parkalgar Honda. I have two bikes for tomorrow, one for hot and one for cold weather but I would prefer hot as I think Kenan is a little weaker in that weather – but saying that I also expect him to be right at the front in the race.”

Miguel: “In the morning when I started to do 1m40secs laps I thought maybe the second row was possible - but then everyone started riding faster and it was not enough. I think 12th and the third row is better than recent qualifying and I take that as a positive. My Parkalgar team has done a great job setting up my bike and I am confident and happy looking forward to the race.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Parkalgar Honda is happy with Eugene second on the grid. Pirro put in a good lap and that helped to push his team mate Sofuoglu on to the second row; he’ll need a good start from there. It would be nice to think that Pirro could beat Sofuoglu tomorrow but that’s unlikely to be allowed. Eugene has found good settings so we are confident for the race. Miguel this morning rode one of the best sessions of his career but in qualifying he lost some momentum. He has stayed on the third row which puts him right in the fight for a good result and he is one row ahead of his recent qualifying which is encouraging.”

Final Qualifying

1. Michele Pirro?(HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)?1′38.444

2. Eugene Laverty?(Parkalgar Honda)?1′38.611

3. Roberto Tamburini?(Bike Service R.T.)?1′38.911

4. Joan Lascorz?(Kawasaki Motocard.com)?1′39.019

5. Gino Rea?(Intermoto Czech)?1′39.224

6. Kenan Sofuoglu?(HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)?1′39.277

7. Chaz Davies?(ParkinGO Triumph BE1)?1′39.371

8. Massimo Roccoli?(Intermoto Czech)?1′39.383

9. Robbin Harms?(Harms Benjan Racing)?1′39.492

10. Fabien Foret?(Team Lorenzini by Leoni)?1′39.773

12. Miguel Praia?(Parkalgar Honda)?1′40.553.

PARKALGAR HONDA racer Eugene Laverty is on provisional pole position for Sunday’s eighth round of the World Supersport Championship at Misano in Italy, one of his favourite circuits.

Miguel Praia on the second Parkalgar Honda is 12th after the opening qualification. A further practice and qualification will take place tomorrow before the race on Sunday 27th June at 1330CET. Keep up to date with Eugene’s weekend on www.eugenelaverty.com

Eugene: “I was caught out early on by the front tyre - Kenan (Sofuoglu) had exactly the same crash at a different corner. I tried squeezing the brake a little harder than normal and there was little feel from the tyre and it let go. I came back to the pits and made a few adjustments and tried a few different tyres and I think we got it as good as we could for the conditions today. My laps at the end were good but I think we can improve further and get into the 1m38secs bracket. The rear end of my Parkalgar Honda is good and we are working on the front end to help me braking into the corners and entry speed. The first speed trap is after the fast kink and I am a lot faster through there than anyone else. You have to learn to be brave through there and my experience on two-strokes has helped me and now I just love the fast sections on any bike.”

Miguel: “It was a good session and it is a shame that on one of my fastest laps I made a small mistake coming out of a corner that for sure cost us time, without that mistake I would have been a lot closer to the second row. It was a good session and much better than the first day at the last round and I am very confident that we can improve further as well. I like the very hot weather and the grip is coming to the track, I am having fun.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Four laps into qualifying and Eugene slid off losing the front end and is OK. After that we worked hard for front end feel and made big improvements – and there is more still to come. He did two good laps at the end; it wasn’t a single 1m39sec lap but a series of them which is good. Miguel was higher earlier on but moved back at the end – it is encouraging and he is in contention. He will have to work hard but he should be able to lap in the 1m40secs bracket – he rode better today that his position suggests.”

First Qualifying

1. Eugene Laverty?(Parkalgar Honda)?1′39.437

2. Michele Pirro?(HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)?1′39.555

3. Roberto Tamburini?(Bike Service R.T.)?1′39.869

4. Kenan Sofuoglu?(HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)?1′39.919

5. Gino Rea?(Intermoto Czech)?1′40.048

6. Joan Lascorz?(Kawasaki Motocard.com)?1′40.126

7. Chaz Davies?(ParkinGO Triumph BE1)?1′40.243

8. David Salom?(ParkinGO BE1 Triumph)?1′40.622

9. Massimo Roccoli?(Intermoto Czech)?1′40.770

10. Matthieu Lagrive?(ParkinGO Triumph BE1)?1′41.098

12. Miguel Praia?(Parkalgar Honda)?1′41.298

PARKALGAR HONDA World Supersport Championship contender Eugene Laverty is looking forward to Misano in Italy and the eighth round of the World Supersport Championship this weekend as it is one of his favourite circuits and he wants to notch up his fifth win of the year.

Miguel Praia is glad the series is back in Europe and will be aiming for his best ever result on the second Parkalgar Honda race bike. There is practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday before the race takes place at 1330 CET on Sunday 27th June.

Eugene: “I like Misano, whatever bike I ride on at the circuit I am quick, whether a 250cc GP bike or my Parkalgar Honda. It is one of my favourite circuits and I genuinely get on well with it. It makes a difference when you go into a race weekend with a positive attitude. I think it will be the usual three at the front – me, Kenan Sofuoglu and Joan Lascorz – and Chaz Davies is starting to be more regular at the front as well. I am looking to add to my tally of wins and take points off Kenan in the Championship; it’s as simple as that.”

Miguel: “Misano has been good for the team so far and I especially like to race in Europe. Recently with all the travelling it interrupts my training regime but now after a break I am back to normal. I have been training very hard and I am fully motivated to have a strong second half of the season. I think the amount of my training and focus means I have a good chance of equalling or bettering my 10th place result from last year.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Eugene has taken 95 points out of the last 100 and Misano is a really good track for Parkalgar Honda. There are six races to go and we are looking for a win this weekend and to pull points back on Kenan. We could do with Lascorz finishing second to Eugene so that we can leave leading the World Championship – or even better if Pirro was to beat Kenan at his home track it could be a Honda 1-2-3. Miguel scored a 10th at Misano last year and we hope he will bounce back after a disappointing result at the last round with a new personal best in Italy, he and the team are certainly motivated enough. Miguel and I have discussed that he needs to work on focus and concentration in every session in order to help us achieve that. There are 27 starters for this weekend’s race which is a bigger grid and that is good for the Championship.”

Thank God the month of May is over and done with, it’s such a busy period. I shouldn’t complain too much though as it was a successful time for me, in fact I’ve only lost out on five points in the past two months! I have a lot to thank the team for as they stepped things up after Valencia, if my bike was good before then it’s frickin’ awesome now.

Although May was hectic we did get some holiday time between races. The day after the race in Kyalami we all got a tour of Soccer City, the stadium where the World Cup final will be played. I tried to hide in the locker room but I got found out! Then we flew to Las Vegas for a few days before the race in Salt Lake City. It was great to spend some time with the team without the noise of bikes going by!

I’m enjoying some time at home right now and the weather’s been kind which always helps brighten the mood. My wee bicycle has been like cow dung, it’s never off the road! My trials bike is parked at the moment, in the winter I’d be itching to get out with the boys on a Sunday but during the season a Sunday at home is a Godsend. Saturday and Sunday are usually my rest days from training so I’ve got an extra 7-8 hours on my hands to get other things done.

I’m off to Silverstone for the MotoGP this weekend. I tested there last week and the new infield section is absolutely brilliant. They’ve done such a good job with the circuit, I enjoyed riding there so much and it’s definitely one of the best circuits on the calendar this year. I’ll be watching the Moto2 guys with a keen eye and I’m looking forward to getting out around the circuit to see up close what these bikes are made of. Unfortunately for the organisers Rossi is out injured at the moment and I hope that doesn’t hurt the attendance too much.

Next up for us World Supersport boys is Misano. I love that place; the circuit is great and there’s a beach down the road! It doesn’t get much better than that. Pippa and I will fly out one day early so we can enjoy a beach for a bit before getting to work for the weekend. I’m also booked in for the Goodwood Festival of Speed the following weekend so I’m looking forward to attending the event for the first time, it ought to be pretty cool.

As they say in Llandow, ciao for now,

Eugene

PARKALGAR HONDA World Supersport Championship contender Eugene Laverty tested at the new Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire yesterday, ahead of the 10th round of the series visiting on 1st August.

With slight rain early in the day the track dried out after lunch and he was able to get through some good set-up work.

“The new Silverstone is a very good track, I like it,” said Eugene. “The weather was tricky this morning but as I learnt the track and it dried out I started to enjoy it. The last two sessions were great as it dried and many of the other riders in the group had gone home so it was clear for us to do our thing.

“The new Arena section is great, sweeping from one side of the circuit to the other, that’ll be a great place to watch for spectators. It’s a long lap but we have managed to find a gearing that will be close and I know my way around now, it’s been a good day.”

Parkalgar Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “Thanks to Focused Events for an excellent track day that will stand us in good stead when we return here to race. Unfortunately Miguel Praia was not able to join us today but we are considering a second test before the race so he can learn the track - it is a very impressive circuit and anything we can do to assist performance of our riders we will do.”

Parkalgar Honda is in action again at Misano in Italy on Sunday June 27th for the eighth round of the World Supersport Championship.

Eugene speaks with Jim Race of MotoGPod. Martin Darlington and Jim Race wander wildly all over the roadracing world, careening from subject to subject with reckless abandon. Try to follow along as we sprint through all the racing action we’ve been treated to lately!

http://www.motogpod.com/episode/episode-230-map-isnt-big-enough-all-us

In this Episode

* Review of  WSBK/WSS races from Utah
* Pre and post-race interviews with Eugene Laverty
* Preview of Mugello MotoGP races
* Talk of happenings at the IOMTT, on now