Eugene Laverty eases in at high speed

As debuts in WSBK go, Eugene Laverty's first testing outing on the official Yamaha Sterilgarda R1 at the Magny-Cours circuit was in the top echelon, as he left the two-day test with the fastest (unofficial) time.

His team was even more impressed with his calm approach and ability to get up to speed quickly, particularly as the first day of testing was held in horribly tricky wet conditions. On day two, in the dry he set the fastest time of the test, recorded at 1'38.7 by his team. On day two Laverty set 118 laps.

"A great first test on the Yamaha," said Eugene afterwards. "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."

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager, said of his new charge, "I think it has been an impressive test from Eugene, 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."

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

(Read more....)

Eugene Laverty - Never my intention to take Sofuoglu out

Laverty: It was an honest mistake and there was certainly never any intention to take Kenan out of the race.

Eugene Laverty has responded to Kenan Sofuoglu's suggestions that it was his intention to take both riders out of the World Supersport race at Imola, insisting there was absolutely no malice behind his last corner move.

Laverty dived for the lead on the last corner chicane around the Italian circuit, but lost the front end of his Parkalgar Honda and slid into the path of Sofuoglu. Both riders came down to gift Michele Pirro victory.

An incident that has generated plenty of comment, Sofuoglu has since been quoted as saying 'it seemed like his [Laverty's} idea was to crash and take me with him'.

However, while Laverty says he understands Sofuoglu's retort, he insists he merely made a mistake in losing the bike where he did and that he would attempt a similar pass if it were presented again.

“I'd go for the pass again because this is a world championship we are fighting for,” he told Crash.net. “I can understand why he said what he said, but it was the last corner and I had to go for it.

“It's a shame what happened because I just lost the front on the white line. It was an error on my part and I don't want to make any excuses. The problem I suffered with my left arm during the race did not contribute to the crash, I simply knew I had to try the pass if there was any chance of me becoming World Champion and I failed to make it stick.

"It was an honest mistake and there was certainly never any intention to take Kenan out of the race.”

Meanwhile, Laverty has said the arm complaint that hampered his progress at Imola won't affect him during the World Supersport showdown at Magny-Cours or when he makes his World Superbike debut with Yamaha next week. 

Source: http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/

(Read more....)

Eugene Laverty on back foot after last lap drama

Eugene Laverty is vowing to move on following the accident that took both himself and Kenan Sofuoglu off their bikes on the final corner of the World Supersport race at Imola.

Laverty attempted to make a decisive pass on Sofuoglu at the chicane, but while he held the inside line, the Parkalgar Honda folded beneath him and sent him into the path of his rival, both riders coming down as a result.

The controversial collision came after an enthralling dice between the two title contenders, the pair swapping the lead up until the final corner melee.

“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."

As it happens, Sofuoglu was able to get his bike going before Laverty and so was classified second, while Laverty had to make do with third. As such, the Turk's advantage is now 16 points with one race remaining in France.

“Now I will go to Magny Cours and try my best to end the season with a win and see what happens there.” 

Source: http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/

(Read more....)

Laverty graduates to WSBK with Yamaha

Laverty and Marco Melandri signal an all-new and exciting line-up for the Italian-based team.

Yamaha Sterilgarda has completed its 2011 World Superbike Championship rider line-up with the signing of World Supersport title contender Eugene Laverty.

The Irishman makes the leap to the premier Superbike series after two seasons spent contesting the WSS title, the move scuppering rumours that he was eyeing the Moto2 World Championship in 2011.

Following in the footsteps of MotoGP-bound Cal Crutchlow, the man he lost the WSS title to in 2009, he will replace James Toseland in the team and join former MotoGP runner-up Marco Melandri in an all-new line-up.

Crediting Yamaha with saving his career after a pair of guest outings with the manufacturer in World Supersports two years ago prompted a full-time switch from the 250GP series, Laverty is thrilled to be linking up with the manufacturer again.

“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,” he said. “When I rode the Yamaha YZF-R6 in World Supersport in 2008 I was having a tough time in 250s, it's nice that Yamaha brought me to the fore and are now giving me the opportunity within superbike.

While a move to Superbikes will represent a challenge for Laverty – who has plied his trade mostly on Supersport and prototype machinery in the past -, he is relishing the opportunity to join a front-running WSBK team.

“Ben Spies winning the championship in 2009 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.”

Beating a number of high-profile riders to the ride, Laurens Klein Koerkamp is certain the Laverty has the talent to progress with Yamaha.

“We've been very impressed with Eugene in the World Supersport Championship. He is a very talented racer who has shown great dedication to training, is focused 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.”

The announcement confirms the exit of Toseland from the Yamaha team after three seasons – two spent in MotoGP and one in WSBK. The former WSBK champion struggled to adapt to MotoGP during his two years there and his failure to win a race with Yamaha in 2010 has duly failed to earn him a stay of execution.

The Briton has been linked with a return to the Ten Kate Honda team he raced with in 2007 before he switched to MotoGP. 

Source: http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/

(Read more....)

Eugene Laverty on pole after late push in Germany

Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) headed the qualifying list after setting a 1'58.415 lap, heading off his great championship rival Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) in the process.

Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com) was third in his return to the WSS class, one place up on his team-mate Katsuaki Fujiwara.

Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech Honda) fired himself into fifth place, ahead of leading Triumph rider, David Salom.

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/

(Read more....)

Eugene Laverty and the perfect Silverstone storm

The World Supersport race at Silverstone once again turned into another two-way battle between Irishman Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) and his Turkish rival Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), and this time, in the fluctuating fields and fortunes of this year's series, it was Laverty's turn to have a perfect weekend.

Spurred on by his numerous British and Irish supporters, the Parkalgar man clinched the win on UK soil with a superb pass on the last lap, after letting Sofuoglu make all the running in the run-up to the chequered flag. This was Laverty's sixth win of the season and it shaved away a further five points from his Honda rival's lead.

Said Eugene in the post-race interviews: "It is nice to win our home race and it was a tough one. My plan had to change several times through the race. First I made a break but then Kenan put in some quick laps and then I decided to drop back and see where he was weak. I spotted his weak areas but he could have been sandbagging so I passed him again on the last lap with plenty of corners to spare and found that he really was weaker and not pretending. It is especially nice to beat Kenan in this sort of race because he is not used to losing this sort of fight and that makes it an important psychological win. My Parkalgar Honda was brilliant, we ran faster lap times than I expected and it was the best bike on the day."

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

(Read more....)

WSS: Eugene Laverty from Sofuoglu after last-lap thriller

Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) was the long time leader but a strong charge from Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) made the final laps a close contest, with Laverty finally re-passing the former champion to take the Silverstone win. Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech Honda) was a hometown hero, taking his first podium in this class.

In the points, Sofuoglu now leads Laverty by 203 to 186. Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com) and fast qualifier Roberto Tamburini (RT Racing Yamaha) were both injured in a crash that halted the first attempt to race, and caused a complete re-start.

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

(Read more....)