LAVERTY LOSES CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD
04 July 2004 - Honda Racing

Eugene Laverty took seventh place in the eighth round of the British 125GP Championship at Knockhill.

The 18-year-old Ulsterman made an impressive start to the race from the third row on his Red Bull Rookies Honda. Fourth into Duffus Dip, Laverty charged into second place at the end of the first lap.

He was soon on the tail of early leader and eventual race winner Paul Robinson, but was unable to maintain his potential podium finishing position. The conditions weren’t ideal for his Dunlop rear wet tyre and he slipped back to seventh place at the chequered flag. Laverty now lies second in the Honda-dominated championship behind Christian Elkin.

His Red Bull Rookies Honda team-mate Steven Neate failed to finish his fourth consecutive race on his RS125. Seventeenth at the end of the first lap, the 16-year-old Barton-le-Clay rider highsided on the exit of Taylor’s Hairpin towards the end of the next lap.

Eugene Laverty: “I was happy in the early stages of the race after a good start and an aggressive first lap. However, from there on it was a struggle all the way to the chequered flag. I wasn’t getting a good feeling from my rear tyre and that made it difficult for me to maintain the pace of the leaders over race distance. That’s racing, but I’m still in contention for the championship and can’t wait to get back to business at Mallory Park in two weeks.”

Steven Neate: “I’m really disappointed with the outcome of this race. I was eager to get a finish under my belt and get some points on the board but it wasn’t to be. I didn’t get the best of starts and perhaps I was a bit too anxious to make up for that in the early stages of the race. That was my second consecutive crash and I know that I’ve got to settle down and get my season back on track.”

Result: 1. P. Robinson (Honda) 19:40.917; 2. C. Elkin (Honda) + 1.008; 3. R. Guiver (Honda) + 2.853; 4. M. Wilcox (Honda) + 10.793; 5. B. Clark (Honda) + 13.032; 6. T. Bridewell (Honda) + 13.955; 7. E. Laverty (Red Bull Rookies Honda) + 15.875; 8. J. Pearson (Honda) + 16.383; 9. A. Beech (Honda) + 16.675; 10. J. Ford (Honda) +27.269; DNF – S. Neate (Red Bull Rookies Honda)

Points after round eight: 1. C. Elkin – 138; 2. E. Laverty – 126; 3. M. Wilcox – 123; 4. J. Pearson – 79; 5. K. Weston – 67; 6=. T. Bridewell, Robinson – 62; 8. B. Clark – 50; 9. S. Neate – 49; 10. R. Guiver – 48

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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