CRT rider Michael Laverty rides exceptionally well at Sepang – MotoGP news
Michael Laverty’s run was one of the biggest surprises at the Sepang test. The Paul Bird Motorsports rider finished second in the CRT class. It must have been a confidence boosting experience
considering the fact that Sepang was Laverty’s MotoGP debut.
On the final riders’ rankings at Sepang, Laverty stood 15th, one place ahead of 2011’s podium finisher Randy De Puniet.
“Not so bad at all is it? I knew yesterday that I should have done 2m 4s. We came back today with the bike as it was, put fresh rubber in and straight away were in the '4s - and stayed in
them all day with the same tyre,” Laverty said while speaking to Crash.net outside the PBM pits.
Although Laverty will be riding a PBM bike in the upcoming MotoGP season, but since the PBM bike is still in the process of being built, that is why Laverty was riding ART, same as his teammate
Yonny Hernandez. From very start of the Sepang test, Laverty kept his composure and constantly improved his time, until on the third and final day, he gained 1.5 seconds which made the PBM rider rocket to second position in the CRT class, finishing behind
Aspar rider Aleix Espargaro. Laverty’s fastest lap came in 2 minutes and 3.874 seconds.
In the second Sepang test scheduled to be held from February 26-28, Laverty will get to ride the PBM bike. According to Laverty, “it seems a shame to change the bike,” because he feels quite
comfortable riding the ART bike.
“I'm really happy with the [ART] bike. It's not frustrating, but we have to come here again and start from scratch with the new [PBM] bike. Fingers crossed it's every bit as good and hopefully
better, but I'm really comfy on the Aprilia,” Laverty admitted.
Laverty further claimed that the team’s aim will be to make the PBM bike as good as the ART bike. It remains to be seen how well Laverty will perform in the second Sepang test and then eventually
in his debut MotoGP season.
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