Tyco BMW’s Michael Laverty feels frustrated by his MCE British Superbike season so far - and reckons he needs to deliver some podium results at the Snetterton BSB round this weekend.
The Toomebridge rider has been quick from the get-go but reckons that events and the weather have conspired against him - a theory borne out at Knockhill where he set the fastest-ever lap of the Scottish circuit, before a tangle with John Hopkins and a fogged visor saw him slip out of Showdown contention.
Laverty was quickest during testing at the Norfolk track and used a new spec K-Tech shock developed for Ian Hutchinson at the Isle of Man TT. It gives Laverty more stability over bumps and he also says it gives a little more edge grip mid-corner before he needs to pick up the throttle – handy at places like Coram Curve.
“We’ve had a frustrating start to the season with weird things conspiring against us. We’ve had the speed at every round but for one reason or another, it hasn’t worked out for us,” the Irishman told bikesportnews.com.
“Looking at the forecast for this weekend, we should have a consistent weekend with good weather, which will be nice. We have got the speed to do the job and deliver. It has been strange this year. We haven’t had too many wet races but there have been intermediate races and coming into qualifying sessions with rain in the air or spitting, so it messes with the grid positions.
“It’s been inconsistent this year whereas last year, we only had the wets in the bike two or three times. We need to get into a normal pattern and continue where we left off at the test. We were fastest on the only day we were there and that was enough to be quickest over all. I was happy with how everything was working there.
““It’s a great track to ride as it’s fast, wide and has good quality tarmac which is very smooth. In fact it’s similar to some world championship tracks in that respect.
There’s a good mix of fast and slow corners with a longer lap to the last few circuits so I’m looking forward to that also. In terms of tyre selection the SC0 allows for fast lap times but they work best when there is good rubber down on the track I feel. So hopefully we will get good weather and lots of riders circulating through Friday and Saturday for that.”
Download the free BSN app for our Snetterton BSB preview, click here
