LAVERTY FOCUSES ON CONSISTENCY
16 June 2004 - Honda Racing

Like his HM Plant Honda Racing team-mates, Michael Rutter and Karl Harris, Eugene Laverty powered to his third win of the season at Thruxton. The Red Bull Rookies Honda rider was in superb form during the sixth round of the British 125GP Championship, which he now leads by 18 points from Christian Elkin. The Toomebridge teenager has been in blistering form on the Red Bull Rookies Honda RS125 and will enter round seven at Brands Hatch as one of the favourites for the 14-lap race.

Having celebrated his 18th birthday on the eve of the Thruxton event, Laverty went on to take his third consecutive pole position before clinching a hard-earned last lap victory from defending champion Michael Wilcox. Laverty’s advantage in the series has been built on the consistency he has shown throughout the season. He has finished on the podium in every event he has completed in 2004.

The British 125GP Championship’s last visit to Brands Hatch in April saw Laverty race to an impressive second place. His Red Bull Rookies Honda team-mate Steven Neate recovered from a third row qualifying position to take a deserved seventh at the chequered flag.

Since then Neate has encountered varying fortune on his way to a high of fourth place overall (prior to Thruxton) in the ultra-competitive 125GP class. The highlight of his season so far was a superb third place at Oulton Park, but two non-finishes – a crash at Mondello Park and a technical problem that prevented him from starting the race at Thruxton – have halted his progress since then.

However, the determined 16-year-old Barton-le-Clay rider is hoping to bounce back this weekend at Brands Hatch. Neate considers the GP circuit to be his home track and he’ll be able to call on his family and friends at the Kent circuit to support his efforts to join Laverty on the podium.

Eugene Laverty: “I’ve only raced on the long circuit once before and I got taken out by another rider on the first lap, so I don’t have a great deal of experience of the place. However, things have been going really well for me so far with three pole positions and three race wins. I’m going to follow the same formula this weekend. The plan is to be out in front throughout qualifying and then try and get away well in the race. Basically, I’m just going to go for it.”

Steven Neate: “Not to have made the start at Thruxton was very disappointing but it’s just one of those things that happens in racing. After not finishing the last two races, I suppose I’ve got a point to prove at Brands Hatch.

“I’ve had good results on the Indy track and the GP circuit is my favourite venue on the race calendar. I’m riding the best I ever have and the support from Red Bull Rookies Honda is fantastic, so I have to fancy my chances this weekend. I’ve just got to knuckle down and work hard during qualifying to give myself the best possible start for the race.”

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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