LAVERTY ROBBED OF PODIUM FINISH
Oct 2008
Michael Laverty’s much anticipated BSB podium looked very much on the cards at Silverstone yesterday in race one, when the Toomebridge rider was sitting comfortably in second position after 5 laps. Ironically, James Ellison crashed out of third place on lap 6 unfortunately taking Laverty with him as his trailing leg caught the rear wheel of Laverty’s Relentless Suzuki. In race two Michael crashed out on lap 9 after shadowing race one winner Leon Camier from the start of the race.
Ian Lowry had another difficult weekend in the British Supersport Championship and having gone the wrong way with his set-up in final qualifying Lowry made a concerted effort from 12th place on the grid eventually finishing sixth in Sunday’s race.
Michael Laverty
“I’m really frustrated as my GSX–R1000 Suzuki was working so well this weekend and my lap times were good enough for a podium. I was comfortable in race one when Ellison fell off and his feet hit my back wheel. In the second race I was forced on to the grass but I got myself back into it. I think I grounded the engine casing out on the kerb in the last chicane and the back end came round on me. I could have hung on to Camier no problem and he ended up finishing second. It was just small dials here and there with the bike this weekend as it was working superbly, so it’s frustrating to come away with no points. We had the pace today with some of the fastest superbikes in world racing, which is encouraging. Now I’m down to the last meeting of the season to try and get the team their first BSB podium.”
Ian Lowry
“I did ok this weekend to come through from a difficult grid position. My race pace was pretty consistent on the GSX–R600, and had a qualified better I would have been able to run at the front. We went completely the wrong way in qualifying and it was morning warm up before we got it sorted, so I was going out blind in the race. I had to push really hard and I did all I could in the circumstances.”
Philip Neill – Team Principal
“I’m bitterly disappointed with the luck we’ve had at Silverstone. Michael was comfortable all weekend with the set-up on his GSX-R1000 in qualifying. We all know Michael’s a better racer than a qualifier, so when he was so comfortable in qualifying I had big expectations. He was certainly looking to deliver in race one and it was pleasing to see him getting stuck in, coming through from ninth to second place. We looked odds on to lead a race for the second time this year and with Michael’s lap times a podium was a realistic target. He is totally without blame for the crash and I suppose you cannot legislate for bad luck. In race two he basically made a small mistake but his lap times were comparable to the front runners. We’re still consolidating a top 10 position in the champion and Michael’s form at the minute will hopefully bring us a podium at Brands Hatch.
Ian was also pretty comfortable all weekend but a bad second session in qualifying lost him around 4/10ths and a front row grid position. He had to come back from 12th place and to battle through to sixth is commendable, but not what we’ve come to expect.”
The final round of the 2008 BSB series is at Brands Hatch on October 10/11/12.
For more information on the GSX-R1000, click here.
For more information on the GSX-R600, click here.
