LAVERTY BEATS THE ELEMENTS
03 July 2004 - Honda Racing

British 125GP Championship leader Eugene Laverty will start round eight at Knockhill in ninth position after a dramatic second qualifying session.

The 18-year-old Red Bull Rookies Honda rider just made the grid after rain played havoc with the teams’ preparations for tomorrow’s 24-lap race.

Laverty crashed his Honda RS125 in the early stages of this morning’s first session and was unable to rejoin the track. The Toomebridge teenager had only completed his out-lap and was therefore outside the minimum qualification time. With rain threatening at the start of this afternoon’s second qualifying period, Laverty was able to find enough time to make it up to the third row of the grid – much to his relief.

His Red Bull Rookies Honda team-mate Steven Neate was a victim of the resultant thunderous showers which prevented the entire field from completing any further dry practice. The 16-year-old Barton-le-Clay rider had to settle for his best time from this morning’s session to take 18th place after failing to improve his position before the downpour.

Eugene Laverty: “That was a close shave but I’m obviously delighted to have qualified under the circumstances. It was always going to be touch and go with the weather, but luck was definitely on our side this afternoon. I like Knockhill – it reminds me of the circuits back home in Northern Ireland – and if I can get off the line quickly, I hope to be in the mix for the podium positions for tomorrow’s race.”

Steven Neate: “Qualifying was a bit of a lottery and unfortunately I got caught up in some traffic during the second session. I wasn’t really able to get a clear lap, which restricted me to my lowest grid position of the season. It has been difficult to find a good set-up in such changeable conditions but I feel that I’m prepared for every eventuality. With a good start, I’m confident that I can get into the points and consolidate my position in the championship.”

Qualifying times: 1. J. Pearson (Honda) 57.741; 2. M. Wilcox (Honda) 57.892; 3. K. Coghlan (Honda) 58.260; P. Robinson (Honda) 58.347; 5. T. Bridewell (Honda) 58.387; 6. B. Clark (Honda) 58.393; 7. J. Dickinson (Honda) 58.650; 8. A. Beech (Honda) 58.696; 9. E. Laverty (Red Bull Rookies Honda) 58.736; 10. C. Elkin (Honda) 58.979; 18. S. Neate (Red Bull Rookies Honda) 1:00.033

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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