From a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

MCN Supersport Cup – DoningtonPark, Leicestershire – 23/25 July 2004

LAVERTY BATTLES TO SIXTH AT DONINGTON

Despite the wet weather conditions, MonsterMob Ducati British Supersport rider Michael Laverty battled his way to a sixth place finish in the inaugural MCN Supersport Cup at DoningtonPark today.

The 23 year old Ulsterman qualified the 749 MonsterMob Ducati in eighth position for the race which formed part of the British Grand Prix support race package and was confident after the two timed sessions but just as the bikes were assembling on the grid, the rains came and with it, any hopes Laverty had of winning in front of many of the 82,000 fans who had stayed on to watch the race.

Despite a good start, Laverty dropped back as a combination of suspension and grip problems thwarted his bid but gamely battled on to claim sixth position at the chequered flag after 22 difficult laps.

“I’m not happy with my performance but I was really struggling out there. I lost the front end twice on the warm up lap and every time I tried to push it in the race, it just kept wanting to break away so it was just a case of bringing it home. I really need to get it together and win at Croft next time out” declared Laverty.

Team boss Paul Bird was echoed his rider’s thoughts: “We need to be winning these races and I think had it stayed dry; Michael would have had a good chance. We got so little practice, it was a gamble and on this occasion, it didn’t pay off for us” said Bird.

Supersport Race Result

1, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 39:16.992, 2, Karl Harris (Honda) +20.384, 3 Adrian Coates (Suzuki) +31.538, 4 , Leon Camier (Honda) + 31.801, 5 Danny Beaumont (Honda) +55.877, 6, Michael Laverty (MonsterMob Ducati) +1:12.582s.


More, from a press release issued by JR Motorsports:

MIXED FORTUNES FOR JR MOTOSPORT AT DONINGTON

Holmfirth-based British Supersport Championship Team JR Motosport endured mixed fortunes when they contested the MCN Supersport Cup race which supported the British Grand Prix at Donington Park this weekend.

After a sterling performance at the recent British Supersport race at MalloryPark, team leader Jamie Robinson was hoping to continue his good form on the Yamaha R6 and posted 14th fastest time during the limited qualifying session around the full 2.5 mile GP track.

But as soon as the bikes lined up on the grid, the rain which had held off for the MotoGP came and with no wet settings around the recently resurfaced track, the team had to gamble on a race set up for the 22 lapper in front of many of the 82,000 trackside fans who had stayed back to watch.

28 year old Robinson’s cause wasn’t helped when he was forced onto the grass on the sighting lap and despite his best efforts in the race, they came to nothing when the motor inexplicably slowed on the eighth lap and forced him out:

“Everything was going just fine and then coming down the straight I felt it cut out and when I tried to put the power on again, there was nothing there. We’d had a problem with the electrics on the grid and had to bump the bike off so we’ll pull it apart and see what the problem is” said the dejected former 250cc British Champion.

It was better news for his team mate Paul Veazey, however, who overcame the treacherous conditions to record his best ever four stroke result with a battling 13th place at the flag.

After qualifying in 21st position on the grid, the Middlesbrough teenager was still suffering from the arm-pump problems that affected him at the previous race at Mallory but gamely battled on to the finish despite being one lap in arrears:

“The only thing you can do in those conditions is to bring the bike home and not crash. I got a good start and rode my own race but kept it as smooth as possible and it worked out for me although I would have liked to have beaten some of those who fell off fair and square” said the 17 year old.

The team’s next outing is in round 10 of the British Supersport Championship which takes places at Croft Circuit over the weekend of August 13/15th although they plan on testing at the North Yorkshire venue on the Media Day there on August 5th.