MotoGP: Eugene Laverty shows his class at Jerez

Eugene Laverty's incredible run of results in the 2016 MotoGP World Championship continued at Jerez in Spain yesterday, where the Toomebridge rider sealed a magnificent ninth place.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Apr 2016, 15:07 BST
Updated 25th Apr 2016, 16:09 BST
Eugene Laverty in action on his way to a ninth-placed finish in Sunday's MotoGP round at Jerez. Picture: Bonnie Lane.Eugene Laverty in action on his way to a ninth-placed finish in Sunday's MotoGP round at Jerez. Picture: Bonnie Lane.
Eugene Laverty in action on his way to a ninth-placed finish in Sunday's MotoGP round at Jerez. Picture: Bonnie Lane.

Laverty, who clinched his best ever result of fourth place in the premier class in Argentina in only his second season in the elite championship, underlined his burgeoning status as a top ten MotoGP contender on the Aspar Ducati as he came home behind Monster Tech 3 Yamaha’s Pol Espargaro and ahead of Hector Barbera on the Avintia Racing Ducati.

The 29-year-old, who also finished in front of British pair Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) – 11th and 12th respectively – could not hide his delight afterwards.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Laverty admitted that he had benefitted from some good fortune in Argentina when he finished outside the podium places in fourth after several riders crashed out, but hailed his Spanish performance as a ‘real result’.

Eugene Laverty has had plenty to smile about in the opening weeks of the MotoGP season. Picture: Bonnie Lane.Eugene Laverty has had plenty to smile about in the opening weeks of the MotoGP season. Picture: Bonnie Lane.
Eugene Laverty has had plenty to smile about in the opening weeks of the MotoGP season. Picture: Bonnie Lane.

“John [Eugene’s brother] said to me before the race ‘this won’t be like the other ones, there won’t be as many crashes, so get your finger out in the early laps’ and I did just that,” he said.

“The start made a big difference and it’s the first time we had a new clutch on this bike, on Friday, and I made an incredible start, so that paid off.

“This is a real result: Argentina, we were still finding our feet and we had some good luck on our side, but we worked damn hard for this and even at the end we were starting to close on [Pol] Espargaro again, but the clutch was slipping on the last six or seven laps. It was a great race and the bike was working well,” added Laverty, who is targeting more of the same at round five at Le Mans on May 8.

“I’m looking forward to Le Mans: last year, it was about learning the circuit again so I’ve done the groundwork and hopefully we can start fresh on Friday and be on the pace,” added Eugene.

Related topics:Spain