Aprilia’s Eugene Laverty came away from this weekend’s World Superbike round a very pleased rider after the Irishman finally got the better of Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes, GoldBet BMW’s Marco Melandri, and team-mate Sylvain Guintoli to storm to victory in race two.
In both races the four riders Laverty, Guintoli, Melandri and Sykes left the others behind, leap frogging in and out of the lead several times, battling down to the last turn for victory. In the first race, after a spectacular flying finish and after having led the race for a large portion, Laverty finished in third, and was pipped to the post coming out of Parabolica by Sykes and the eventual race winner, Melandri.
In race two the Aprilia riders stayed in the lead: first Laverty for seven laps and then Guintoli in the next eight and then Laverty again, taking the lead in the last two laps to then defend down to the wire to take the win.
With this victory, the third of the season after the one in Phillip Island and the last round at Assen, Laverty is now lying in second place in the championship which is led by his team mate, Sylvain Guintoli. Laverty is now satisfied with his win and it rounds off a great weekend.
“This was a great day for me. After the podium in race one it was nice to end the weekend with a victory. Especially since I was a bit disappointed because I had a shot at the top step of the podium in the first race as well if I had managed the end differently. We showed that we can be fast and consistent on two very different tracks like Assen and Monza. My RSV4 did extremely well for me,” said Laverty.
“On this track the speed and balance of the bike in braking are essential. The points situation is excellent if you consider the double dnf in Aragon, but I've already left those difficulties behind and I count on doing well at the next round in Donington as well. Even though it will be an 'almost' home round, it has never been a particularly favourable track for me, but I think this year I've got everything in order to bridge this gap as well”.
