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Laverty sums up 2012 and looks to 2013

Tuesday, 6 November 2012 09:07 GMT
Laverty sums up 2012 and looks to 2013

Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing) is one of the top riders in the championship already looking forward to 2013, but is also enjoying some downtime in his native Northern Ireland.


After winning races in his rookie year in 2011 while riding for Yamaha, his move to Aprilia last winter offered much but it took some time for him to make the breakthrough to winning status in 2012. As Eugene stated on his own website blog recently, "I got my wish in the end! Nürburgring was a nice build up with two runner-up finishes before finally getting my first win of the season at Portimao. We came on really strong towards the end of the season so it was nice to go into the winter break off a good run of races. What an end to the title fight though! It came down to just half a point between Max and Tom in the end after nine months of racing which is incredible."


For Laverty testing will be an important element of his 2013 build-up, especially after his experiences in 2012. "We have a good testing schedule this winter with a test in Jerez planned for the end of November. One big error on our part last winter was testing at just one circuit, Portimao. The Aprilia works really well there so it did not highlight any major issues with the set-up. In fact it wasn't until round two at Imola when I understood that there was some problem areas with the RSV4 and by then I was already nursing an injury and 50 points behind in the title fight! We've taken the setting in a good direction lately and I'm optimistic of the potential of this bike. The Aprilia technicians are the best I've worked with in my career and so I know that together we're capable of achieving something great."


Happy to get some down time in at home until preparations kick-off for 2013 proper, Laverty made a serious point in a joke about living in northern Europe during the off season.


"We've just entered the most important stage of the calendar: trials season! During the week training is difficult due to the harsh winters in Northern Ireland but I look forward to getting out on the trials bikes with my friends on the weekend when they're off work. I'm not sure how many more weeks I have left to cycle the roads at home before a layer of ice decorates the tarmac. That's the joys of living in Northern Ireland I guess! It's nice to be home though and I intend to spend time with my family and friends while I can."