Here is the episode of Eugene on RTE kid’s show elev8.
http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1082632

The second day of the two day test at Magny Cours today saw the Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team’s 2011 rider Eugene Laverty enjoying starkly contrasted weather to yesterday’s rain. Clear blue skies, sunshine and warm track temperatures allowed the new Yamaha rider the perfect opportunity to settle in to his YZF-R1 Superbike, completing 118 laps over the morning and afternoon sessions. The team were impressed to see his times drop progressively over the day, ending with a fastest lap time of 1’38.7 seconds, the fastest rider of the test.
“A great first test on the Yamaha,” said Eugene Laverty. “I really surprised myself, it’s not often I exceed my own expectations as I’m very realistic normally. I really didn’t expect to go quite as quick or feel quite as comfortable so soon. I didn’t want to do anything silly and give the team the wrong impression so have just been taking it step by step learning the bike. I thought I would have to do more laps to get a good feeling but felt pretty good by lunchtime today. To have a good base leaving the first test and got over the nervousness is great. The team has made me feel very welcome; the working relationship is great so I’m looking forward to continuing into the race season next year.”
Frankie Carchedi, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Crew Chief for Eugene Laverty
“Once again Eugene has exceeded our expectations. We reached our targets very early in the day and were able to make various changes to the bike through the afternoon session to suit Eugene’s riding style. His feedback was very precise which helped us in tuning the set up quickly to adapt to his riding preferences. I’m very excited about getting to our next test where our target is to test the 2011 bike.”
Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team
“I think it has been an impressive test, especially his calm approach. I think as a first test his integration into the team was really good. It seems that he was riding his bike already and he was able to be very consistent with really good lap times straight away in both wet and dry conditions, this gives me a lot of confidence for next year. In the end I don’t feel we could have expected a better test result, it has been a very positive two days.”

Having signed to the Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team for the 2011 season 24yr old rider Eugene Laverty got his first taste of the YZF-R1 Superbike today at the Magny Cours circuit in France. The first of the team tests in advance of next year was marred by bad weather; heavy rain in the morning preceded a slowly drying track in the afternoon. Laverty initially spent some time out on the track on full wet tyres before changing to a slick rear and intermediate front for the final couple of laps of the day as the track dried out. Despite the wet conditions he was at home on the bike immediately, impressing the team with his feedback and pace over the day’s sessions.
Laverty wrapped up his World Supersport season in style at the weekend taking his eighth win of the season, securing second in the championship, and adding to his tally of five pole position starts and a total of ten podium finishes.
“I enjoyed the first experience,” said Eugene Laverty, “but I have to admit I was a little unsure beforehand what the power delivery would be like! I was pleasantly surprised; it’s been very smooth so far, although it was a little wet. We got a little dry time at the end so I got an insight into what it’s going to be like tomorrow with the full power when we get cracking in the morning. I feel very welcome with the team and really at home on the bike so I’m really happy.”
Frankie Carchedi, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Crew Chief for Eugene Laverty
“Today was a good day as we were able to focus on getting Eugene physically comfortable on the bike, making some adjustments to fit his body size to the R1. The weather has definitely not been on our side so far but we made the most of the wet track to get him started with a softer setting. He exceeded our expectations in the short time we were on the track so we are looking forward to hopefully a dry day tomorrow to make further progress.”

PARKALGAR HONDA and Eugene Laverty won their eighth race from 13 starts in 2010 while Miguel Praia battled to 10th at the final round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours in France.

Despite winning more than twice as many races as new World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu, Parkalgar Honda’s Eugene finished second in the series for the second year in a row. Miguel took a career best 12th in the final standings.

Parkalgar Honda earlier announced its final rider line-up for 2011 with reigning British Supersport Champion Sam Lowes taking over from World Superbike-bound Eugene alongside Miguel. The preparations for the 2011 season start next week when the team begins its winter development programme. For more information on Parkalgar Honda visit www.parkalgarhonda.com.

Eugene: “I am obviously disappointed as I still held a hope of winning the World Championship and I did all I could do by winning the race. At the start Kenan got away but then I figured out what I had to do and reeled him in to win. We had a tough weekend but it is nice to have my eighth win of the season. Thank you to Parkalgar Honda, it will be very sad for me to leave this team, it has given me the best two seasons of my career.”

Miguel: “10th was the most we could do today. I was able to fight OK at the start of the race but the rear grip went away a little earlier than I hoped and then I started to lose strength because of my hand injury. I just stayed on and scored as many points as possible which lifted me another place in the Championship to 12th – my personal best ever. My bike was perfect and it is a shame that I was taken out at Imola as there and here I should have been inside the top 10 and that would have put me in the top 10 of the Championship. The Parkalgar Honda team is fantastic and I look forward to next season and making the step into the top 10.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Eight wins is more than twice that of anyone else in the Championship and add to that the fastest lap as well – we did all we could today but it wasn’t quite enough. It’s been a fantastic fight all season and these two riders have clearly been the class of the field. Congratulations to Ten Kate and Kenan on winning the World Championship. Congratulations also to Honda on the Manufacturer’s Title which with eight victories we practically won for them single-handed. Second in the team Championship for Parkalgar Honda is also a personal best, so we are pleased with that. Well done also to Miguel who has recorded his best ever season with 12th in the Championship and we will be doing all we can to get him firmly into the top 10 next year.

“I’d like to thank Eugene on behalf of the whole team for two fantastic years and wish him all the best for his career in Superbikes. Now we welcome Sam Lowes to the team and he will be going for the World Championship in 2011. A big thank you to everyone in the team – I am immensely proud of what we have all achieved together. I want to give a big thank you to Parkalgar and all of the team’s partners for supporting us this year and making it all possible.

“The work for 2011 starts now and there will be some good news about a new partner we are bringing onboard released soon – and we are working on getting Sam on to the bike as soon as possible so we can get him fitted and understand how he rides. Keep in touch with the team on its website through the winter, there is going to be plenty of news.”

Race Result

1 2 50 E. LAVERTY IRL Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR

2 1 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 22 +4.769

3 12 7 C. DAVIES GBR ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Triumph Daytona 675 22 +17.658

4 8 55 M. ROCCOLI ITA Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 22 +20.412

5 11 127 R. HARMS DEN Harms Benjan Racing Honda CBR600RR 22 +20.559

6 3 37 K. FUJIWARA JPN Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 22 +21.200

7 6 25 D. SALOM ESP ParkinGO BE1 Triumph Triumph Daytona 675 22 +25.051

8 7 51 M. PIRRO ITA HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 22 +25.174

9 14 44 R. TAMBURINI ITA Bike Service R.T. Yamaha YZF R6 22 +32.256

10 17 117 M. PRAIA POR Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 22 +59.797

Final Championship Standings (after 13 of 13 rounds)

1: Sofuoglu 263

2: LAVERTY PARKALGAR HONDA 252

3: Lascorz 168

4: Davies 153

5: Pirro 99

6: Salom 99

7: Harms 98

8: Roccoli 84

9: Rea 83

10: Fujiwara 81

12: PRAIA PARKALGAR HONDA 66

PARKALGAR HONDA racer Eugene Laverty will start from second on the grid for tomorrow’s 13th and final round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours in France and has vowed to do all he can to win and keep the pressure on in the title race.

Laverty is 16 points behind Kenan Sofuoglu and the title will be decided tomorrow in the race with a maximum of 25-points up for grabs.

Parkalgar Honda’s Miguel Praia is suffering from an injured left hand and could only manage 17th on the grid. The race starts at 1330 CET tomorrow, October 3rd.

Parkalgar Honda will announce its final 2011 rider line-up tomorrow before the start of the World Supersport race – tune in to Eurosport for exclusive coverage.

Eugene: “Kenan was quick from the off and we spent most of the session working on the chassis of my Parkalgar Honda for mid-corner performance. We need a little bit more set-up improvement overnight for the race. I am delighted to have finished on the front row again as that is 15 in a row. Kenan has a lot of pace and I will try to go with him. I certainly want to win the race and make it an eighth victory for the team. This has been the best team I have ever worked with, they are my friends and it is sad to be leaving after the race. It would be nice to reward them with another win and maybe even a Championship - who knows what might happen in the race.”

Miguel: “Things are not so good after qualifying as I was struggling to make the fast changes of direction and to be aggressive. This is down to my left hand which I injured last week and then hurt further yesterday in a high-speed crash. It is basically holding on to the bar but there is no strength and it is hard to ride like this. I expect the riders in front of me to be running in 1min 43secs pace and I think I can do that as well. I am putting ice on my hand and it seems to be improving so tomorrow I really want to give it my best and try to get to the top 10 for the final race of the season.”

Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Eugene clicked with his bike right at the end of the session and I am sure his crew will find a little more for him overnight. We expect him to be fighting for the race win. It is nice to see Kenan pushing so hard – anyone pushing as hard as that may make a mistake and that’s what we realistically need if we are to win the Championship. Miguel is up against it with an injured left hand but we will do all we can to make him comfortable on his Parkalgar Honda so he can score as many points as possible in the race.”

Final Qualifying

1 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′41.372

2 50 E. LAVERTY IRL Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′41.813

3 37 K. FUJIWARA JPN Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′41.872

4 99 F. FORET FRA Team Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′42.006

5 23 B. PARKES AUS Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 1′42.086

6 25 D. SALOM ESP ParkinGO BE1 Triumph Triumph Daytona 675 1′42.091

7 51 M. PIRRO ITA HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′42.163

8 55 M. ROCCOLI ITA Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 1′42.167

9 4 G. REA GBR Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 1′42.240

10 18 M. AITCHISON AUS Kuja Racing Honda CBR600RR 1′42.431

17 117 M. PRAIA POR Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 1′43.448