LAVERTY LOOKING GOOD AT KNOCKHILL
25 June 2005 - Paul Bird Motorsport

Stobart Honda rider Michael Laverty will start from row two for the fourth time in five meetings when he set seventh fastest time for round seven of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland this afternoon.

The 23 year old from Antrim was holding a front row grid position aboard the VK, Vent Axia and The Mob backed Stobart Honda for much of this afternoon’s dry and sunny second session but eventually dropped down the order as he explained:

“I’m happy enough although I would have liked to put it on the front row. I managed to go quicker with my first tyre but I was trying too hard with the second tyre and didn’t go any faster. I’ll definitely be up there tomorrow. I know I can make a good start so it’s going to be good.”

Team mate Gary Mason again suffered during qualifying after experimenting with the rear chassis and he will start from fifteenth position on the grid.

“I was just chasing my tail a bit then. We’ve moved forward quite a bit but I just feel like I haven’t built my confidence 100% yet because I’ve been jumping from bike to bike and I’ve made it hard for myself now” said Mason.

Team owner Paul Bird commented: “That was alright. It was close in qualifying but I think Michael’s got a good chance tomorrow and I wouldn’t rule him out of a rostrum. Gary has struggled for whatever reason and he just needs to build his confidence and hopefully he can pull something out of the bag.”

The third Stobart Honda rider Jeremy McWilliams remains out of action this weekend with his shoulder injury.

Superbike Qualifying

1, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 49.351s, 2, Michael Rutter (Honda) 49.499s, 3, Jonathan Rea (Honda) 49.717s, 4, John Reynolds (Suzuki) 49.735s, 5, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) 49.764s, 6, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 49.772s, 7, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) 49.857s, 8, James Haydon (Suzuki) 49.880s, 9, Karl Harris (Honda) 49.894s, 10, Glen Richards (Kawasaki) 49.912s… 15, Gary Mason (Stobart Honda) 50.432s.

2005 BSB Race Dates

R1: 26–28 March, Brands Hatch, Kent (Indy) www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R2: 8–10 April, Thruxton, Hants www.barc.net

R3: 22–24 April, Mallory Park, Leics www.mallorypark.co.uk

R4: 30 April–2 May, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R5: 13–15 May, Mondello Park, Co Kildare www.mondellopark.ie

R6: 3–5 June, Croft, N Yorks www.croftcircuit.co.uk

R7: 24–26 June, Knockhill, Fife www.knockhill.co.uk

R8: 8–10 July, Snetterton, Norfolk www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R9: 19-21 August, Silverstone, Northants www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk

R10: 27-29 August, Cadwell Park, Lincs www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R11: 9–11 September, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R12: 23–25 September, Donington Park, Leics www.donington-park.co.uk

R13: 7–9 October, Brands Hatch, Kent (GP) www.motorsportvision.co.uk

www.paulbirdmotorsport.co.uk

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