PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty and his title rival Kenan Sofuoglu played a high-speed game of cat and mouse while leading the 12th round of the World Supersport Championship at Imola in Italy, climaxing in a final chicane crash and both riders remounting with Eugene finishing third.

Parkalgar Honda’s Miguel Praia was confident of a top 10 result but in the first corner another rider crashed and took him out of the race.

Eugene is now 16-points behind Sofuoglu in the Championship with just one round and 25-points remaining - it takes place next Sunday October 3rd at Magny Cours in France.

Eugene: “I am angry with myself because my left arm started to go numb towards the end of the race and I was riding the bike with my right arm only. It is an old injury that came back today and my priority now is to get it sorted properly. In the race when I took the lead I tried to cruise a little to protect my arm but when Kenan came by I had to go with him. I couldn’t set myself up as precisely as I wanted on the last lap but came up the inside on the run to the chicane. He put pressure on me and I lost the front so we crashed. I got my bike up but it took a moment longer than Kenan to get going again. Now I will go to Magny Cours and try my best to end the season with a win and see what happens there.”

Miguel: “I could do nothing. I went into the first corner and another rider crashed into me and that finished my race. I tried to restart but couldn’t. I am very frustrated as I could have scored good points in the top 10 I am sure. My left thumb is a little sore so I will get it checked by the clinic just to make sure it is OK. Now I am focussing on the final race and finishing the season on a high.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “That was a fantastic race between the two best Supersport racers in the World and I am sure it thrilled the crowds. Neither racer was prepared to give an inch and the end result was Kenan took four more points than Eugene. The Championship is now a long shot being 16-points behind but we will not give up and will be racing again next week going for another win. Miguel was very unlucky being taken out by another rider as we are all confident he would have been well inside the top 10 - it just makes him and Parkalgar Honda more determined to finish the season with a strong top 10 finish in France.”

Race Result

1: Pirro

2: Sofuoglu +2.888

3: LAVERTY, PARKALGAR HONDA +4.569

4: Parkes +4.865

5: Fujiwara +5.718

6: Roccoli +6.102

7: Aitchison +9.977

8: Migliorati +18.563

9: Tamburini +19.987

10: Vizziello +28.436

DNF PRAIA, PARKALGAR HONDA

Championship Positions (after 12 of 13 rounds)

1: Sofuoglu 243

2: LAVERTY, PARKALGAR HONDA 227

3: Lascorz 168

4: Davies 137

5: Pirro 91

6: Salom 90

7: Harms 87

8: Rea 83

9: Fujiwara 71

10: Roccoli 71

13 PRAIA, PARKALGAR HONDA 60.

WET weather meant no-riders improved on yesterday’s qualifying positions for the 12th round of the World Supersport Championship at Imola in Italy and has left Parkalgar Honda duo Eugene Laverty and Miguel Praia fired up and ready to race.

Eugene will start from second on the grid and is determined to fight it out with Kenan Sofuoglu for the win and the Championship. Miguel’s 12th place start is no indication of his true speed and he is confident he can secure a strong top 10 finish. The racing starts at 1330 local time, Sunday 26th September.

Eugene: “We got some useful data in that damp but drying session. We might not have been able to push as hard or fast as we wanted to on parts of the track but we tried some changes to my Parkalgar Honda and we have a good direction for tomorrow. Warm up will be important as we have had little track time because of rain. I am starting right alongside Kenan and my position remains the same; I am utterly determined to win and will do all I can in the race. ”

Miguel: “The first section of the track was very damp so it held us back from fast lap times. I think an intermediate front tyre would have been ideal but stayed on a slick and made sure my Parkalgar Honda bike was working properly and doing what I wanted. I think 12th is OK on the grid and we should be competing inside the top 10; I am happy with my bike and its set-up despite very little track time and I am sure we will be competitive in the race.”

Simon Buckmaster Team Manager: “The damp and drying conditions have not been ideal but the fact is we are in a good position with Eugene second and Miguel 12th on the grid. Eugene is right beside his title rival and we all know what we have to do – it should be between them for the race win. Miguel is quick enough to finish in the top 10 and is immensely confident in his own ability and recent form so we are expecting a lot from him.”

Final Qualification

1: Sofuoglu 1:52.397

2: LAVERTY PARKALGAR HONDA +0.882

3: Pirro +0.936

4: Fujiwara +1.144

5: Davies +1.326

6: Parkes +1.401

7: Roccoli +1.470

8: Aitchison +1.584

9: Rea +1.737

10: Salom +1.879

12: PRAIA PARKALGAR HONDA +2.003

PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty is in provisional second place on the grid for Sunday’s 12th and penultimate round of the World Supersport Championship at Imola in Italy after the first qualifying session was cut short by rain.
Parkalgar Honda racer Miguel Praia is 12th and confident of improvement tomorrow after being baulked on two of his fast laps before the rain arrived. The race takes place at 1330CET on Sunday 26th September at Imola near Bologna in Italy.

Eugene: “It is a shame it rained as we were just getting into our stride and making good improvements so to lose track time is frustrating. We have a new Pirelli tyre and it looks as though it has a lot of potential so we will be busy tomorrow working on that. Kenan tested here in July with the new tyre so he has a slight advantage today but we are closing him down quick.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Before the rain Eugene was making rapid improvements and we expect him to continue in that vein tomorrow. Miguel was also looking good and was unfortunate to come across slower traffic on two fast laps that would have placed him higher up the grid; but we are confident he has the potential to improve. Let’s hope it stays dry for qualifying tomorrow so we can up the ante.”

First Qualification
1: Sofuoglu 1:52.397
2: LAVERTY PARKALGAR HONDA +0.882
3: Pirro +0.936
4: Fujiwara +1.144
5: Davies +1.326
6: Parkes +1.401
7: Roccoli +1.470
8: Aitchison +1.584
9: Rea +1.737
10: Salom +1.879
12: PRAIA PARKALGAR HONDA +2.003.

Sadly we lost one of the best rising stars in Grand Prix racing at Misano just a few weeks ago. Shoya Tomizawa was an incredible rider and although I didn’t know him as a person he seemed to be your stereotypical cheerful Japanese rider. I admired the things he could do on a bike, most notably this season in Moto2. He used inside kerbs in places nobody else would think of, I watched in disbelief as he rode at full lean over inside kerbs at Mugello and Brno. That’s the sign of a rider who does his homework so from that moment on I was a fan of Shoya Tomizawa. Unfortunately we’ll never get to see what he would have achieved but I’m certain he was destined for MotoGP.

In just two weeks time I’ll find out whether I’ve done enough to win my first World Championship title. Between now and then there are fifty points up for grabs and I need every single one of them if I have any chance of becoming champion! I really feel that we as a team at Parkalgar deserve to win the title as we’ve dominated this season. If I’m being honest last year the championship belonged to Crutchlow and Yamaha as we had no answer for them on numerous occasions over the course of the season. This year, however, the championship belongs to us and it would be a crying shame if we were to lose out.

I don’t want to talk too much about next season as we’ve still to finish 2010 but I’m really excited about the challenge that lies ahead. Yamaha have given me the opportunity to prove my worth on a superbike in 2011 and I plan to do just that. I was torn between Moto2 and World Superbikes but in the end I opted to sign for Yamaha. Both Ben Spies and Cal Crutchlow have made the step from WSB to MotoGP in the past few years off the back of a single season with Sterilgarda Yamaha so that really swayed my decision. Right now Moto2 isn’t proving to be a stepping stone as the new class is still sorting itself out and I didn’t want to get mixed up in that.

I’m back home in Northern Ireland and as I get ready to watch MotoGP qualifying from Aragon I can here the sound of rain echoing on the roof. September is well and truly rainy season for us. As strange as it sounds I look forward to October and November because even though it’s cold at least the rain is less frequent and more predictable. With frequent showers forecast it’s always a risk heading out on my pushbike. I’d hate to be a weatherman in Northern Ireland as it’s impossible to forecast any further than a few hours down the line! I don’t have much planned before I leave for Imola next week. I’m enjoying doing chores around the house, I think every man looks forward to mowing the lawn even though most moan about it!

Moto2 qualifying has just started so my eyes are beginning to focus on the TV rather than my laptop. Kev Coghlan is doing a great job in his wildcard appearance, it would be great to see him finish on the rostrum tomorrow. I’m off to put the kettle on.

See ya,

Eugene

Yamaha has signed a contract with current World Supersport title contender Eugene Laverty to join the Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team on the YZF-R1 alongside MotoGP rider Marco Melandri for the 2011 season. 24 yr old Laverty from Northern Ireland is a proven winner, having finished runner-up in the 2009 World Supersport Championship taking four victories aboard his Parkalgar Honda. He is currently just 12 points behind the lead in the current standings with two further rounds to go having taken seven race wins and five pole position starts so far this season.

Laverty is no stranger to Yamaha, taking time out from the 250cc MotoGP Championship to enjoy two wild card World Supersport rides in 2008 in place of injured rider Fabien Foret. The young rider adapted quickly, scoring an impressive podium finish with third in his second outing at Vallelunga.

“It’s great to have a contract signed at this stage while still fighting for the title in the Supersport class. I desperately want to win this year before moving on,” said Eugene Laverty. “When I rode the Yamaha YZF-R6 in World Supersport in 2008 I was having a tough time in 250s, it was a much needed break at the time and now they’ve given me another huge opportunity within superbike. I owe Parkalgar Honda a lot of  thanks for two great seasons in the World Supersport Championship as they provided me with a superb package allowing me to show the world what I’m capable of. I feel that I’m now ready to step up to the World Superbike Championship. Ben Spies winning the championship in 2009 for Sterilgarda Yamaha and Cal Crutchlow now stepping up and winning races shows the bike and team are more than capable so the rest is up to me. I think with the team support and a good testing schedule we can start the 2011 championship ready to be competitive from the first race and be on the podium as early as possible. Having a teammate like Marco Melandri is great, he has a wealth of experience to learn from so I’m going to enjoy riding with him.”

“We’ve been very impressed with Eugene in the World Supersport Championship,” said Yamaha Motor Europe Racing Manager Laurens Klein Koerkamp. “He is a very talented racer who has shown great dedication to training, is focussed on victory and we know he’s a great person to work with. We have proved with Cal Crutchlow that we have the facility to bring young riders through from World Supersport, continue to nurture and develop them in World Superbike and provide them with further opportunities in MotoGP if the situation is right. We look forward to working with Eugene and believe he has the talent to continue through with Yamaha into the future.”

PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty won his seventh World Supersport Championship race from 11 starts at the Nurburgring in Germany to slash the gap in the title fight to just eight points with two races remaining.

With Eugene’s main title rival Kenan Sofuoglu finishing third, it means the Irishman can now win the Championship if he wins the last two races – something he wasn’t able to do before today’s result. The next and penultimate round of the Championship is at Imola in Italy on September 26th.

Eugene: “We needed that and it was not easy. We went a wrong direction with our set-up and the bike was a little loose in the race. I knew I had to break Kenan though so had to push the whole race and Gino came with me. The nice thing now is the title race is in my hands which it wasn’t before – if I win both the last races then I will be Champion. That’s a big ask as Kenan is strong particularly at Imola but with Parkalgar Honda I have the bike, package and team to do it.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Eugene rode a great race and controlled it from the front. In the second half of the last lap he was masterful the way he kept momentum through the corners but selected the lines to defend his position. A great result and it is game on in the title race. Miguel was good in warm-up and on for a top 10 result when he went wide at turn one and crashed. He remounted to score two points and it shows the fight he has and he remains in touch for a top 10 Championship position.”

Race Result

1: LAVERTY, PARKALGAR HONDA

2: Rea, Honda +0.058

3: Sofuoglu, Honda +5.072

4: Parkes, Kawasaki +15.890

5: Foret, Kawasaki +16.911

6: Davies, Triumph +28.380

7: Salom, Triumph +28.495

8: Roccoli, Honda +28.578

9: Pirro, Honda +28.787

10: Tamburini, Yamaha +1:02.199

14: PRAIA (PARKALGAR HONDA) +1:51.319

Championship Positions (after 11 of 13 rounds)

1: Sofuoglu 219

2: LAVERTY (PARKALGAR HONDA) 211

3: Lascorz 168

4: Davies 136

5: Rea 103

6: Salom 89

7: Harms 86

8: Pirro 65

9: Lagrive 65

10: Foret 63

13: PRAIA (PARKALGAR HONDA) 59

PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty leapt from provisional fifth to pole position in final qualification for the 11th round of the World Supersport Championship at Nurburgring in Germany, showing real class and pace whilst Miguel Praia improved his lap times but dropped to 15th.

Laverty must beat Sofuoglu in tomorrow’s race to keep the pressure on in the title fight; he is currently second in the standings just 17-points behind with three races remaining. The race takes place at 1330 local time on Sunday 5th September.

Eugene: “We needed to get an advantage over the Turk and we did that. I made six laps within 2/10ths of each other and well over one-second faster than yesterday. We have made a good step with my Parkalgar Honda and my riding. We have played with the gearing as it is a bit of a compromise around here and also with the geometry of the bike. My Honda has improved a lot completing the corner and is nimble while providing excellent feedback from the rear. I think the race will be between Kenan and myself; he wants to win the race and has shown that so it should be a good battle between the pair of us at the front.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Eugene was very good today and completed several 1m58secs laps in a row which is impressive and shows his class. He has sorted out any issues with his bike and riding and is going to be battling for another win and keeping as much pressure as possible on Kenan. Miguel is not where he should be in 15th – if he had timed his final run better and got another lap or two on a new tyre he should have achieved the top 10 - that is where we expect him to finish in the race.”

Final Qualifying

1 50 E. LAVERTY IRL Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′58.415

2 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′58.557

3 23 B. PARKES AUS Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′58.617

4 37 K. FUJIWARA JPN Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′58.654

5 4 G. REA GBR Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 1′59.110

6 25 D. SALOM ESP ParkinGO BE1 Triumph Triumph Daytona 675 1′59.277

7 99 F. FORET FRA Team Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′59.374

8 51 M. PIRRO ITA HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′59.381

9 55 M. ROCCOLI ITA Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 1′59.492

10 18 M. AITCHISON AUS Kuja Racing Honda CBR600RR 1′59.895

15 117 M. PRAIA POR Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 2′00.213.

PARKALGAR HONDA’S Eugene Laverty is provisionally fifth and Miguel Praia 13th on the grid for Sunday’s 11th round of the World Supersport Championship at the Nurburgring in Germany after a frustrating day held them back from showing their true potential.

There is another practice and qualifying session tomorrow before the race takes place at 1330 local time on Sunday, September 5th. To follow the team visit the website at Parkalgar Honda.

Eugene: “We were fastest in the morning session and had a really good direction for the afternoon. The lap times were coming easy and we were very positive but then the qualifying session turned into one of ‘those sessions’ where nothing seems to come together. I set my fastest lap early on a used tyre then had an electrical problem that was fixed. I then had a slow speed crash, changed bike and the front tyre gave me no feel. I changed that but by then the rear tyre was shot and after that I struggled to get into my rhythm on either bike. It’s a case of lessons learnt and looking forward to tomorrow, we know we can run at the front and just want to put this session behind us.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Eugene had a slow speed crash mid qualifying and that lost him momentum. There was no injury or damage and at the end he was looking good for second place but lost time on his last sector to finish fifth. Miguel had an electrical problem in the morning that meant he effectively lost the session. Given that, he rode very well in qualifying to take 13th. It’s been a frustrating day but we are rising to the challenge and expect a lot more tomorrow – the weather forecast is good so we should be able to improve both riders.”

First qualification

1 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′59.276

2 25 D. SALOM ESP ParkinGO BE1 Triumph Triumph Daytona 675 1′59.277

3 4 G. REA GBR Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 1′59.807

4 37 K. FUJIWARA JPN Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′59.818

5 50 E. LAVERTY IRL Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′59.964

6 99 F. FORET FRA Team Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki ZX-6R 2′00.104

7 23 B. PARKES AUS Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 2′00.275

8 51 M. PIRRO ITA HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 2′00.423

9 14 M. LAGRIVE FRA ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Triumph Daytona 675 2′00.535

10 18 M. AITCHISON AUS Kuja Racing Honda CBR600RR 2′00.538

13 117 M. PRAIA POR Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 2′01.266