The inclement wet weather at Magny-Cours started with a downpour on Saturday morning which persisted until the afternoon. The Superpole 2 pole position shootout ran in full wet conditions, posing a challenge for all riders. Several riders including Rea and Melandri fell early in the session, before Milwaukee Aprilia riders Eugene and Lorenzo also fell, all at different corners of the track. The riders finished the session P9 and P11 respectively.
The rain had stopped before the race start, but the track was still wet and needed caution from the riders. Eugene and Lorenzo struggled off the line with low grip, and had to avoid debris from a crash involving other riders on Lap 2. They raced each for position in P10 and P11 respectively, before Eugene was able to find pace and begin moving forward in aggressive style.
As the track came to him, Eugene passed Torres for P9 on Lap 6 which he held for 8 laps, before passing Davies for P8 on Lap 15. He soon overtook Giugliano for P7 on Lap 18, before passing Mercado at the finish line for his finishing position of P6.
Eugene Laverty #50 – Aprilia RSV4-RF Superpole 2: P9, 1’59.637
Race 1: P6, 10 points
“Superpole was a really difficult session. I just had no grip at the rear and that’s what caused me to crash, and we couldn’t learn much in that time. The race start was a disaster, it was like riding on ice for the first few laps because the tyres just weren’t working. When it was fully wet I had no grip at the rear and the bike was so difficult to ride. About half way into the race it started to dry out, and the second half was much stronger. I was able to find rear grip and I was able to move forwards, and I made some good passes on the way.
If it’s wet tomorrow we know what to do, and the same if it’s dry; we know where to go with the bike. We need to get that ‘push’ onto the rear tyre which should make a big difference, and I know we can do better in Race 2.”