BMW rider Eugene Laverty experiences a pitch-black Sunday at the World Superbike Championship at Donington, retiring in frustration in the second main race
Ex-Vice World Champion Eugene Laverty had a disappointing weekend at the World Superbike Championship at Donington. In Superpole, the BMW rider did not get beyond 20th place on the grid. Laverty finished the first race in 20th place, which was to be the best result of the weekend as the Northern Irishman was waved off in 23rd place in the sprint race and retired in frustration in race two.
What was going on with Laverty at Donington? “It was very difficult from the first laps. Together with my team we tried everything, but there was no way to get the rear tyre to work this weekend,” Laverty states the reason for the failure.
“Compared to the other three BMW riders, it was clear whenever we looked at the tyre usage that I had no grip. So it was clear that with my smaller size I can’t use the rear tyre on this track and that was the main problem all weekend,” the 2013 WSBK season runner-up is convinced.
The race abandonment in the second race was the low point of the weekend. “I’m not a rider who likes to finish the race before, but in the final race there was no point in doing those last laps. I was so far back,” Laverty regretted.
“I did everything with my team, they never give up, but at the moment it’s really tough times. We have to regroup now and focus on Most,” commented the Bonovo BMW rider, who is 16th in the riders’ standings after five of twelve events.
Eugene Laverty’s brand colleagues had far fewer problems at Donington. Factory rider Scott Redding secured the first top three result of the season and Bonovo teammate Loris Baz finished in the top 10 in all three races, but Redding and Baz rode the new Kalex swingarm at Donington, which is said to significantly improve feel (more background).
“Eugene and Ilya (Mikhalchik), who both didn’t have the new components yet, were unfortunately too far away and didn’t get to grips with the bike,” notes BMW Motorcycle Sport Director Marc Bongers. The new swingarm should be available to all BMW riders after the upcoming event in Most at the latest.
