Date : 10/07/2010

Eugene Laverty to start from the front row in Brno

Parkalgar Honda ace Eugene Laverty took third place on the front row of the grid for the ninth round of the World Supersport Championship at Brno in the Czech Republic despite crashing with more than 10-minutes to go while Miguel Praia finished a well-deserved 10th.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda riders, Kenan Sofuoglu and Michele Pirro, will start tomorrow’s ninth round World Supersport championship race at Brno in the Czech Republic from the second row of the grid after setting the fifth and sixth fastest times respectively in today’s final qualifying session.

Pole position for tomorrow’s 18-lap race was taken by Spanish rider Joan Lascorz as both Hannspree riders continued to fine-tune their Honda CBR600RR machines for the 5.403km Brno circuit’s flowing downhill and uphill sections.

Currently lying in championship second place, Sofuoglu is hoping to regain the lead tomorrow as the series heads into its final phase. Pirro, meanwhile, hopes to return to the World Supersport podium for the first time since March.

Eugene Laverty:
“I was caught out by that bump, it was completely unexpected. I should have saved the crash but it just went on and down – I am a bit annoyed. I came back to the pits but decided not to go out again and watched the timing screens. I am pleased that I managed to stay on the front row as it got fast towards the end. Overall the setting of my Parkalgar Honda is very good and I am happy with it, I can run quick lap times consistently. I now know that bump is there so I’ll be avoiding it in the race.”

Kenan Sofuoglu – P5 2’03.397s
Overall we went in the right direction today, but I think we went slightly wrong during qualifying this afternoon. In the hot conditions, we still have some problems and it was tough today. It’s difficult braking in the downhill sections and I completely locked the front in sector two on my quick lap. I almost crashed, so maybe I should be happy with the second row. Front row would have been nice but we know what we need to do to improve the bike for tomorrow. We have the speed to fight at the front and, although I did not achieve my goal today, it’s more important to achieve it tomorrow.

Michele Pirro – P6 2’03.421s
The front is pushing a little under braking so I cannot be completely happy. The bike feels OK otherwise but it was not a good qualifying session for me. I struggled to get into a rhythm and couldn’t make a good lap because always it seemed there were slower riders on the line when I wanted to go fast. It made today difficult but I hope tomorrow will be much better. I think our race pace is good enough to stay with the guys at the front and will try to do that for my team who have been working very hard to help me this weekend.

Miguel:
“I am very happy to get into the 2mins 3seconds bracket but a little disappointed not to have stuck on the second row, the pace was very hot, just like the weather. I can run quick lap times here and I am enjoying the circuit, I think I can have a good race tomorrow. My Parkalgar Honda is good and if I can get away with the riders just in front of me then I will be able to compete with them, I need a good start.”
Pole position : 2m02.800s (158,394Km/h) Cal Joan Lascorz, Kawasaki
Circuit Best Lap : 2m02.060s (159.350Km/h) Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha, 2009