More Morning Moto News - Phillip Island WSBK and World Supersport

The World Superbike race this past weekend at Phillip Island was a success story for some British riders, many of whom have also competed in the British Superbike Championships over the last several years. Of course, Leon Haslam, this weekend's double winner, was once in the BSB series, but now he is firmly ahead of all WSBK riders after one round. He did win the first race by the slimmest margin in WSBK history, but that means little as he still takes the 25 points with him to the next round...

http://tinyurl.com/yzk5apu

One area of WSBK which often gets overlooked in the headline stories around the world is the World Supersport series which is one of the WSBK support classes. This past weekend at Phillip Island, there Eugene Laverty schooled the field after the re-start and has taken the early lead. He had some issues in practice and qualifying trying to keep up with some seemingly faster riders, but that did not stop him from taking the checkered flag!

http://tinyurl.com/yf2kkg3

More Morning Moto News - NZ Superbikes & WSS

At the second round of the New Zealand Superbike Championship, held this weekend in Teretonga, has spurred some contraversy. Apparently, both Andrew Stroud and Robbie Bugden are claiming victory after the race officials made a huge mistake with the last lap flag, You just have to read the article, it is worth your time. And, apparently, Race 2 was much less confusing.

http://tinyurl.com/yessaoo

At the World Supersport tests in Portimao, Portugal, Eugene Laverty managed to take the fast lap at the end of the session. Second fastest on the day was the Kawasaki of Joan Lascorz, with Honda-mounted Michele Piro coming in third. Sounds like they accomplished a great deal over the weekend...

http://tinyurl.com/ycl9k4u

Sunday Morning Moto News - Gowland and Andrews

Over in the U.K., an old hand is returning to race in the show - Graeme Gowland. He will be running in the British Supersport Championship with Parkalgar Honda on the same CBR600RR which took Eugene Laverty to second in the World Supersport Championship. He was hoping to move up elsewhere, but it all comes down to money...

http://tinyurl.com/ya53qkw

MSS Colchster Kawasaki rider Simon Andrews is in France doing high-altitude training. He will be competing in the British Superbike Championship in 2010, and he wants to be in his best shape. It makes sense to train in the thin air as it will make you even better at near sea-level altitudes. He has also been working on recovering from injury, but all seems to be going well so far.

http://tinyurl.com/yc4vgej

Some Monday Afternoon Racebike Testing - Yamaha and Honda

First up MotorcycleUSA has had the chance to throw a leg over two World Supersport machines. The first is the championship winning Yamaha YZF-R6 of Cal Crutchlow. This is about a perfect factory-spec WSS motorcycle with electronics on the thing just shy of what you would find on a MotoGP machine. It is one hell of a wild ride! Just let me get my hands on one, please...

http://tinyurl.com/yzxdxw6

Next, they had the chance to ride on the WSS race-prepped Honda CBR600RR of Eugene Laverty. His team, Parkalgar Honda, may be a satellite team, but this bike performs like a factory-supported machine should. It has the above R6 in the mid-range, but is just a hair shy of it on the top end. Go and lust on your own time!

http://tinyurl.com/yhorc2j

Interview with Eugene Laverty - 2009 World Supersport Runner-Up

Laverty did have a tough time this year against the very dominant Cal Crutchlow on the Yamaha YZF-R6. But, Laverty's Honda CBR600RR was no slouch; he truly competed for race victory in almost every event. The very cool part of this story is that Laverty's team is a privateer team - no factory support - and yet they managed to beat out the factory supported Honda team...this is a good read.

http://tinyurl.com/ykxl4lv

Cal Crutchlow Elated and Ready For World Superbike in 2010

Crutchlow held off Eugene Laverty this past weekend in Portimao to finally take the World Supersport Championship. It was a good way to leave the class as he will be contesting the World Superbike Championship in 2010 with Yamaha and James Toseland as his teammate. It looks like he is ready to enter the fight and has the wherewithal to fight for the championship...

http://tinyurl.com/yh62nf4

Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards Nominations Open

This paper will award the best sportsman - based on reader voting and some nominations - from Northern Island. For motorcycle race fans, the choices will be Jonathan Rea, Alastair Seeley, Eugene Laverty and Ryan Farquhar. If you live in the circulation area for this paper, head on over to the website and cast your vote!

http://tinyurl.com/yjb7alj

British Rider Laverty Needs a Miracle at Portimao Round

On 25 October 2009, the World Superbike Championship will land in Portugal at the Portimao and U.K. rider Eugene Laverty will need a miracle to take the World Supersport Championship from Cal Crutchlow. As it stands, his performance at Magny-Cours pushed him back 19 points from his countryman from a 2 point deficit before the French round.

http://tinyurl.com/ydv4ow7

Parkalgar Honda Want Eugene Laverty to Sign Before Next WSBK Round

Laverty, who sits second in the points in World Supersport, is also talking with Yamaha. Team boss Simon Buckmaster has stated that Laverty needs to sign before the Imola race on 25 - 27 September 2009 or they may have to sign someone else for his seat...

http://tinyurl.com/lkqwyb