LAVERTY FOURTH AT RAIN LASHED DONINGTON
10 April 2006 - Stobart Honda

Stobart Motorsport rider Michael Laverty overcame some of the worst conditions seen in recent years by recording a fourth and seventh place finish in round two of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

The 24 year old from Toomebridge, Co Antrim followed up a superb fourth place in the opening leg, held in the dry conditions, with a battling seventh in the deluge which was race two to end up sixth in the Championship going into next weekend’s third round at Thruxton.

It wasn’t quite such good news for team mate Michael Rutter who followed up a seventh place in race one with a battling performance in race two which saw him dicing for the lead only to slide out at Redgate Corner towards the end, much to his frustration. As a result Rutter lies in ninth position in the Championship after two rounds.

Michael Rutter: “I’m disappointed as it has been a frustrating weekend. In the first race I was lacking a bit and couldn’t stop the bike, it just kept wanting to run into corners really fast and in the second race I was struggling with rear end grip like everyone was. It just came round on me and highsided me and threw me down the road. We were up there with them and I wanted to finish on the podium but it wasn’t meant to be.”

Michael Laverty: “I was happy enough with the first race. After the pace car came out I lost a bit of time because it took some time for my tyres to get warm again. I got faster as the race went on and I think I could have challenged Leon Haslam for the podium as I know I can run in the top three. In the last race I just kept it as steady as possible and tried to bring it home so I was happy enough with seventh place. Everything is looking positive for the next few races and we’re getting stronger and stronger.”

Team owner Paul Bird was frustrated by the weather and commented “We’ve had a difficult day but this is what happens sometimes. It was good to see Michael (Rutter) up there and challenging for race wins and that’s where we need to be but he was just caught out with the bad conditions. Michael (Laverty) is going from strength to strength and is now a serious contender for a race win. We now need to make all our results count from here on in.”

The next round of the Championship takes place at Thruxton next weekend.

Superbike Race One Result

1, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 20m53.166s, 2, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.134s, 3, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +5.246s, 4, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) +9.361s, 5, Shane Byrne (Suzuki) +9.591s, 6, Karl Harris (Honda) +10.540s, 7, Michael Rutter (Stobart Honda) +11.533s, 8, Jonathan Rea (Honda) +20.235s, 9, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) +22.451s, 10, Scott Smart (Suzuki) +23.216s.

Superbike Race Two Result

1, Scott Smart (Suzuki) 27m37.071s, 2, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.576s, 3, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +2.297s, 4, Gary Mason (Honda) +5.943s, 5, Jonathan Rea (Honda) +30.768s, 6, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +33.586s, 7, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) +36.829s, 8, Ollie Bridewell (Suzuki) +59.273s, 9, Chris Martin (Honda) +59.297s, 10, Malcolm Ashley (Kawasaki) +1:04.142s.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings (after round 2)

1, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 82pts

2, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 58pts

3, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 56pts

4, Karl Harris (Honda) 41pts

5, Scott Smart (Suzuki) 33pts

6, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) 31pts

7, Jonathan Rea (Honda) 30pts

8, Shane Byrne (Suzuki) 26pts

9, Michael Rutter (Stobart Honda) 25pts

10, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) 23pts

10, Gary Mason (Honda) 23pts

2006 Bennetts British Superbike Race Dates

R1: 24–26 March, Brands Hatch, Kent (Indy) www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R2: 7–9 April, Donington Park, Leics www.donington-park.co.uk

R3: 14–17 April, Thruxton, Hants www.barc.net

R4: 29 April–1 May, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R5: 19–21 May, Mondello Park, Co Kildare www.mondellopark.ie

R6: 2–4 June, Mallory Park, Leics www.mallorypark.co.uk

R7: 16-18 June, Snetterton, Norfolk www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R8: 14–16 July, Knockhill, Fife www.knockhill.co.uk

R9: 21-23 July, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R10:11-13 August, Croft, N Yorks www.croftcircuit.co.uk

R11: 26-28 August, Cadwell Park, Lincs www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R12: 15-17 September, Silverstone, Northants www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk

R13: 29 September – 1 October, Brands Hatch, Kent (GP) www.motorsportvision.co.uk

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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