Parkalgar Honda Team Manager reviews 2009 WSS season
| Monday, 30 November 2009 18:41 |
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Simon Buckmaster, the manager of the Parkalgar Honda team, saw his squad come tantalizingly close to winning the Supersport World Championship in 2009. As a privateer team on a small budget, this was a remarkable achievement considering how many potential champions and top teams there were in the mix last season.
WorldSBK.com asked him to give his thoughts on a season which saw his lead rider Eugene Laverty win four races, and finish only seven points from outright victory in his rookie season.
How would you rate your team's effort in 2009, finishing second in the championship?
"To do what we did on budgets which were smaller than the more established teams in the championship was a great all-round effort. Eugene rode very well, but even if you look at our other rider Miguel Praia, we have taken him from seldom scoring points a couple of years ago to scoring 40 points and a finish inside the top 15. As a team we did a fantastic job."
And top Honda team in the series, which was another landmark for you?
"I respect the Ten Kate Honda team, but I am also very proud of the fact that we beat them in the championship."
Are you pleased with the final placing of second in the Riders' Championship for Eugene?
"When you get to that situation, be in that position, then you want to do better. To me the difference was that Cal Crutchlow had been used to running up front for the last few years. OK, in British Championship not world, but Eugene did two years in 250 GPs just riding hard to get into the points, just because he wasn't on good machinery. I think that experience of fighting up the front and dealing with the pressures and everything around that told in the end in 2009. But I'm sure if we race the same championship situation again next year we would probably get a different result. We all have more experience now, and remember that in essence this team, in its current format, is only two years old. I think everyone has done a great job and will continue to do that."
WSB seemed strong in 2009, but from the ‘inside' how strong was it really?
"WSS is the strongest it has ever been, I would say. It says a lot about Eugene and Cal that they came in and finished first and second in the championship. Kenan Sofuoglu didn't ride worse than he had done when he won the championship. But I think the two new guys just took things to another level. I honestly believe that."
Cal was the top challenger for you to deal with in 2009 but who do you see as the biggest challengers for next year?
"If you ask me who I would expect to be the hardest person to beat next year it would be Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki). I think he is a rider that is on par with Eugene and Cal. His bike will be better as well and I would expect more of a fight to come from him than from Kenan."
