Eugene Laverty joined the Moto GP season in 2015 when he rode for the Aspar MotoGP Team on a Honda. After one season they decided to switch to Ducati and what a decision this has turned out to be for him.
Laverty has been impressive since the start of the season, he has looked comfortable and confident and successfully finished in twelfth position in Qatar collecting four championship points. His best result in sessions FP1-4 was eleventh and after qualifying he managed to qualify in seventeenth on the grid. Come to race day and he was there, up with the front runners running a fantastic race.
Eight riders crashed out of the second round of the MotoGP season in Argentina, but this should not take anything away from Laverty’s efforts; he was ahead of three of those that crashed. Laverty was consistent and he continued to push; he is one of the only riders who have been happy with the grip on the front of the bike. Then the carnage in front of Laverty in the final few laps meant he gained three positions just by staying on!
“The last lap was great craic something a bit special! I started the last lap I think in eighth position and finished in fourth, it’s an incredible race.
It was a race of two parts really because we started again, with the fuel again, and the new tyres, but the track was a little bit better in the second exit. I realised in the second part of the race that I had to make all my time on the entry.
I was having to gain time on the brakes because I had no rear grip compared to the other riders, so I adjusted to use more of my front tyre and I was able to keep a good rhythm. But yes, I never expected to get fourth that was incredible!”
Laverty finished as the top independent in fourth position, his best ever result in the MotoGP class, it must have felt like a win for him! He picked up thirteen points in Argentina; more than he had accumulated (nine) over his first season with the MotoGP even though he deserved more. He is now eighth place in the championship with seventeen points in total.
