Voltcom Suzuki’s Eugene Laverty fell foul of a lack of engine braking in both of today’s World Superbike races at Imola but will test a new strategy at the Italian circuit tomorrow.

The Irishman struggled with his corner exit strategy all weekend and says it is the it is the first time he has been well off the pace as the nature of Imola is very stop-start, compared the flowing nature of Phillip Island.

“Phillip Island didn’t show any weakness with the bike as you don’t have to brake or accelerate anywhere hard and the engine breaking system is still nowhere near. The other guys are working well with their strategies so we need to catch up,” said Laverty, speaking to bikesportnews.com at the track.

“This is the first weekend we have been well off the pace. Corner entry is the problem and corner exit follows it. If you have good corner entry, you get it turned on the throttle and get out.

“We have been waiting for something new for it for a little while, now it is here so we will be able to do a lot of work on it in the test tomorrow. There couldn’t be a better place to try it really.

“At Aragon, we were unlucky with engine problems on the Saturday but even there we had a bike that was capable of finishing on the podium. In Assen we didn’t really show our cards, and then the rain happened and we know what went on there.”