Laverty not giving up on Supersport hopes
Added on Friday, October 9th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Laverty not giving up on Supersport hopes
Eugene Laverty claims that he isn’t giving up hope of clinching this year’s World Supersport title in the final race of the year at Portimao next weekend despite losing ground to Cal Crutchlow.
A disastrous round at Magny-Cours last week meant that the Irishman’s two-point deficit on Crutchlow extended to 19 points heading into the final round, with Laverty now relying on a mistake from the WSB-bound rider if he is going to claim the championship.
Should Crutchlow fail to finish in the points at Portimao, Laverty will win the title if he finishes at least second. Other permutations mean that Even if Laverty wins in Portugal, he will not win the title if Crutchlow finishes in the top ten. Even if both riders finish level on points, Crutchlow will still take the championship by virtue of race wins, having secured five wins to Laverty’s three.
But Laverty is refusing to give up the chase and is going into the final round with a “nothing to lose” mentality.
“I wanted to put Lascorz between Cal and me but the fuel load had dropped and it caught me out,” said Laverty of his fall. “Usually I have a few warnings and put more weight on the front but this time I had none and down I went. I got back on but the right lower fairing was dragging through the corners and slowing me down on the straights. I am not hurt but I am disappointed, however, it is not over yet and now we will go to our home track at Portimao and we have got to win either-way – who knows what will happen. We still have a shot at the title and want to win at our home circuit in Portugal.”
