Eugene on pole position; Miguel best ever second row
Sat, 24 Oct 2009
VODAFONE PARKALGAR HONDA and Eugene Laverty celebrated their first ever pole position today at the team’s home track of Portimao in Portugal – and a great day was made even better by home favourite Miguel Praia qualifying in a best ever seventh position for the first second row start of his career.
In blistering sunshine at the 14th and final round of the World Supersport Championship, Eugene and Miguel worked and rode together on track to set their fastest lap times and secure the team’s best ever qualifying results. Eugene still has a chance to win the World Championship, he is trailing title rival Cal Crutchlow by 19-points with just 25-points left for a win tomorrow.
The World Supersport and World Superbike Championships will be decided this Sunday, October 25th. Tickets are available on the gate and for more information, visit: http://www.autodromodoalgarve.com/.
Vodafone has joined the Parkalgar Honda team for the final round of the World Championship at the Parkalgar circuit in Portugal – for more details see www.vodafone.pt.
Eugene: “My Vodafone Parkalgar Honda felt good and then when I pushed really hard it still felt good. On my last fast laps I had a little bit of patter coming through the front but my race pace is very good and I am looking forward to the race. It is great to get my first ever pole position here at the team’s home circuit and in front of the Portuguese fans, they are really getting behind us and I want to reward them with a win tomorrow.”
Miguel: “Thank you to Eugene for letting me follow him, it was not easy to stay behind him as he set pole position and it helped a lot. My Vodafone Parkalgar Honda is fantastic and I am comfortable, I think I can run low 1m46secs or even high 1m45secs laps tomorrow and will do my best to follow the riders in front and compete as high up as possible. I am receiving really big support from the Portuguese fans and to secure my best ever qualifying here is simply brilliant.”
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “What a brilliant team effort from every single member of Vodafone Parkalgar Honda. From the riders to the technicians to the support and circuit staff everyone has played their part helping us achieve our best ever qualifying as a team and first ever pole position. I am proud of the team and what it is achieving in the face of big-budget Factory-supported opposition and there is a genuine belief that Eugene can win the race. Whether he can win the title is out of his hands but so far he is doing all he can to put the pressure on and we will see what happens in the race. Miguel rode his best ever laps today and we are delighted for him and the effort he is putting in, he will secure his best ever result tomorrow for sure if he keeps that level of performance.”
Qualifying Times
1 Laverty E. (IRL) VODAFONE PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1'44.836
2 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1'44.909
3 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'45.087
4 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 1'45.157
5 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'45.161
6 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 1'45.366
7 Praia M. (POR) VODAFONE PARKALGAR HONDA CBR600RR 1'45.436
8 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'45.742
9 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'45.886
10 Veneman B. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 1'46.052.
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