WSBK, ROUND 6 - BRNO

WSBK, ROUND 6 - BRNO

In a dramatic and closely-fought Race 2 at Brno Milwaukee Aprilia riders Eugene Laverty and Lorenzo Savadori delivered the team's best WorldSBK result with P4 and P5.

Following a similarly hard-fought contest in Race 1 where they finished P6 and P7 respectively, Eugene and Lorenzo lined up P3 and P4 for Sunday's race. Eugene got away strong from the front row and took the fight to Lowes and Van der Mark, while Lorenzo initially struggled and slipped to P8.

Eugene ran slightly wide and was passed for third by Melandri on lap 2, while a crash for Rea in P7 moved Lorenzo up a place. Eugene fought with Davies for P4 but lost out, before Melandri ran wide and dropped out of contention. 

From there the teammates were locked in a tense fight with Rinaldi in fifth, Eugene's consistent pace keeping him at bay while Lorenzo was in attack mode and looking very comfortable on the Aprilia. Lapping mere tenths apart Eugene pulled out a small gap and Lorenzo made a strong move on Rinaldi on lap 14 to take P5. They ran nose to tail for the final laps and crossed the line just 0.294 apart, scoring an excellent best-ever result for the team in WorldSBK and demonstrating the big progress made over the last two rounds.

The championship now heads overseas for Round 8 to Laguna Seca in California, USA, a track that should play to the Aprilia's strengths and brought the team solid top 8 finishes in 2017.

 Shaun Muir - Team Principal

"Obviously we are on a real high from this weekend at Brno, we've had two strong finishes in two races and produced the best performance of our WorldSBK campaign.
To be only 1.7s off Davies in third who we beat yesterday was hard to take, but nevertheless we go away on a real wave to Laguna Seca, a track that we can excel at.
I'm really proud of the team, they worked hard all week and their focus and drive is great to see. The riders are in a good place with the bike, so we have much to look forward to".

Eugene Laverty #50 : Grid P3 - Race P4 - 13 points

 "It was a great result today for the team with me and Lorenzo fighting for fourth and fifth. We knew there was promise and we delivered on it.

My aim today was the podium, we weren't too far off in the end but there was just not enough pace. It was a hotter race today so I had a bit less rear grip, and my rhythm was a bit slower

We'll keep on like this for Laguna Seca and keep pushing. The fourth place is good but I really am desperate to get back on the podium. It's been 4 years for me since being on the podium and the whole team deserves a result, so we have a clear goal for America."


Lorenzo Savadori #32 - Grid P4 - Race P5 - 11 points

"The position today was positive but I'm not very happy with my race. I think we could have been quicker and pushed for the podium.

My start was not so great and I lost some places, so I had to push hard to pass the riders and move up. I was close to Eugene at the end and I tried to pass but there was not enough time.

Overall it was a good weekend for the team, we have made good progress. I am looking forward to Laguna Seca, we did quite well last year and I am sure this time we can do even better."

Laverty and Savadori bring home double points haul in Brno Race 1

Eugene Laverty and Lorenzo Savadori scored P6 and P7 in Race 1 on Saturday, after a red flag and botched restart at the Brno Circuit.

A turn 5 crash on lap 4 between other riders resulted in dangerous track conditions, and brought out the red flags. The field pitted and awaited the restart. Officials announced a quick restart procedure, however a technical fault with the starting lights forced the start to be aborted, and riders had to take their grid places again for the resumption of the race.

On the restart both riders were attacking, Eugene holding strong in P7 while Lorenzo followed in P9. With good changes made in the red flag period they showed a much improved form, with Eugene passing Davies for P6 on lap 7, and Lorenzo passing Camier for P8 on lap 9. Lorenzo then followed up with a move on Davies for P7 on lap 12. Eugene eventually led Lorenzo home to take P6 and P7, scoring a total of 19 points for Milwaukee Aprilia in another positive double points finish.

With starting positions of P3 and P4 from rows 1 and 2, the riders will have another big opportunity in Race 2 to build on the team's growing form, and to deliver a strong points haul in the leading group.

Shaun Muir - Team Principal
"We've made a big step forward at Brno, we've now got both riders on the large diameter tyre which clearly worked for Lorenzo at Donington, and they have both been working on that this weekend. Eugene didn't make it to Superpole 2 initially but that was a benefit to him, as he made some big progress in the Superpole 1 session.
The race was good for both riders and they were competitive, Eugene and Lorenzo were close to each other for the whole distance and only finished a few seconds from fourth and fifth place, which was encouraging.
We start P3 and P4 tomorrow for Race 2 so we are aiming for a top 6 finish for both riders. If we can achieve that then it will round off a good weekend and give us encouragement before we go to America.".

Lorenzo Savadori #32 : Grid P7 - Race P7 - 9 points
“Today was not so bad, I had a little problem at the start with the clutch, and on the third restart it was really difficult to get away. I lost some places there and I had to push to make a gap, but the bike had quite a good rhythm.
I struggled with the front for some of the race and I chose a different tyre to most of the other riders, so that is an area we can work on for tomorrow. I fought with Davies for a few laps which I enjoyed and I was able to pass him near the end for P7, which gives us more good points.
I want to find more feeling in front for Race 2 and push a lot more. The bike is better on full fuel now and the bigger tyre works well for me, so I hope from P4 on the grid we can have another strong race."

 

Eugene Laverty #50 : Grid P5 - Race P6 - 10 points
“Today was a pleasant surprise for us after a difficult time in Free Practice yesterday. This morning practice was really strong though and the qualifying went really well. In Superpole I was getting stronger and stronger, and P5 was a good result.
The red flag period in the race helped us because I struggled in the first part with the settings on a full fuel load. They weren't quite right initially, but when I pitted the guys made some good changes to the front of the bike and I was then able to push a lot more.
Tomorrow we hope for an even better result, we know what we need on a full fuel tank now, and starting P3 gives us a good shot at scoring some big points in Race 2."

WSBK, ROUND 6 - BRNO_0