LAVERTY SEEKS TO REGAIN INITIATIVE
30 June 2004 - Honda Racing

Eugene Laverty is hoping to regain the initiative in the battle for British 125GP Championship supremacy at Knockhill.

The 18-year-old Ulsterman had an 18-point advantage going into the last round at Brands Hatch, but this evaporated in the Kent wind and rain.

Red Bull Rookies Honda’s rising star only had limited experience over the 2.6-mile Grand Prix circuit before the seventh round of the series – and then a pre-race shower disrupted his preparations. With no wet weather testing, the whole field was forced to gamble on tyre selection and set-up in the most challenging of circumstances.

Laverty and team-mate Steven Neate opted for Dunlop wet tyres and battled throughout an epic 125GP-class encounter. Variable conditions favoured riders who had selected slick and intermediate tyres but the Red Bull Rookies Honda duo were still able to be competitive over the full race distance.

Sixteen-year-old Neate had held the upper hand for the majority of the race until he crashed out at Graham Hill Bend, just ahead of his team-mate, on the last lap. Laverty was adversely affected by the crash – he lost three places and eventually finished ninth at the chequered flag (after another rider had been disqualified for a technical infringement). The Toomebridge teenager is now equal on points with Brands Hatch race winner Christian Elkin at the top of the championship table.

Eugene Laverty (1st = 118 points): “I was disappointed after my performance and result at Brands Hatch. It was a difficult race for me, but I’ve got to move on from that and concentrate on the next round. I rode at Knockhill in 2001-02, but missed last year’s event so that I could race in the Spanish championship. I’m looking forward to our annual visit to Scotland, because there’ll be quite a few Irish fans there to support us – it’ll just be like another home round! I’m hoping it will give me the encouragement I need to get back on the podium and increase my lead in the championship once again.”

Steven Neate (7th = 49 points): “Brands Hatch didn’t go as well as I had planned. I had a good race with Eugene but was disappointed that a silly mistake on the last lap cost me a top ten finish. I want to start afresh at Knockhill – I enjoyed racing there last year and my aim will be to get to the chequered flag. I’ve got to be more consistent over the remainder of the championship. I haven’t finished the last three races which has seen me drop from fourth down to seventh in the overall standings. I’d like to get back on the podium but don’t want to be over-ambitious and push myself too hard.”

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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