Laverty wants more glory

Saturday, October 13, 2007

By Jimmy Walker

Laverty rides tomorrow in the final round of the British Supersport championship but he has already won the title having wrapped it up at Donington Park three weeks ago. This time he's at Brands Hatch and is hopeful of ending the season on a high note even though he doesn't have to pull out all the stops to win.

What is likely to be on his mind is the fact that he is moving up to Superbike for the Sunflower meeting and this will be his first time on the larger machine this season. However he is happy to get acquainted with the bike only four days before he uses it in action at the Sunflower meeting.

"That gives me plenty of time," Michael told me. "It would be different if Jonathan Rea or Tom Sykes were at the Sunflower but the fact is they're not. I think I have given myself plenty of time to move into the Superbike mode."

Laverty is certainly a hot favourite to win the Bishopscourt prize for the fifth time and that would really be an incredible feat when you consider that he was narrowly beaten into second place by Rea last year after having won the main event four years in a row. There are not many riders who could produce that level of consistency but Laverty is one of them.

Laverty's team-mate Ian Lowry may also be on a Superbike at the Sunflower meeting. Lowry, who is in second place to Laverty 16 points ahead of Dennis Hobbs in third in the British Supersport championship has been something of a forgotten man because of the aura surrounding his team-mate.

Lowry said: "I was ninth last year in the British championship to Cal Crutchlow and also last season I was second and third behind Tom Sykes after having two seconds behind Tom at Bishopscourt the previous year.

"Obviously I'd like to win something at Bishopscourt this time and I feel I have a chance in the 600cc class even though I will have to beat Michael who is going for a five-timer at the meeting in the sense that in addition to the main event Michael will be riding two Superbike races and two Supersport. Hopefully I'll catch him when he's not quite at his best and I would feel that I'm good enough to win one of these races."

Lowry has had a memorable season and although he hasn't won at Bishopscourt in recent times he has always looked good round this track.

As for this year's efforts against Laverty Lowry said: "I won at Snetterton with Michael second and I also beat him in other Supersport races so I am not a total underdog."

Apart from the 'L drivers' the Bishopscourt court meeting should see a big performance from Alastair Seeley who hasn't done a lot this year but at his best he could give Laverty a run for it. Seeley lacks nothing in confidence and two years ago at the Easter meeting over the course he wiped the floor with the opposition including Cameron Donald.

He'll not be far away this time and you would have to include him in your calculation.

Ian Lougher an old hand at the Sunflower and races like it is also in the line-up, Rob Frost will be involved and for local riders BJ Toal who is another British champion from this year won't be far away.

Marty Nutt will probably supply the biggest danger to Laverty for he has a tremendous record in the Sunflower and in fact beat Laverty in the 600 race four years ago.

So although it looks very much like a Laverty benefit you can never be too sure.

With riders like those mentioned along with road experts in Conor Cummins and Keith Amor also in action there should be plenty happening.