Lascorz wins as Laverty crashes out.

By Burning Rubber on Oct 4, 09 01:06 PM

lasc head.jpg JOAN Lascorz took a solid win in today's World Supersport race at Magny Cours - while Eugene Laverty hampered his title hopes by crashing out.

While championship leader Cal Crutchlow cruised home second, a mistake by Laverty could have cost him the title.

The Irishman crashed out on Lap 12 after passing Crutchlow for second behind Lascorz, who had led for most of the early part of the race.

Laverty, who had always looked like he had something extra in the tank as he sat behind Cal for several laps, had just made the move on his Yamaha Racing rival and was looking in a good position to head off in chase of Lascorz' Kawasaki.

But losing the front of his Parkalgar Honda half a lap later, he slid off and into the gravel. He managed to pick up his CBR600 machine and rejion the race, and eventually crossed the line in 14th, clawing back three points.

Up front things remained the same until the end, with Lascorz leading Crutchlow from Ten Kate Honda'as Kenan Sofuloglu.

A fight for fifth between outgoing champ Andrew Pitt, Mark Aitchison, Anthony West and Katsuaki Fujiwara was the only main battle which emerged as the leading trio settled into position up front, with the foursome constantly swapping places in the closing laps.

And the race was cut short after a red flag with two laps remaining - at a point where Crutchlow, visibly closer to Lascorz, looked as if he fancied a last lap fight for the win. crutch wheel blog.jpg

Instead he admitted he was happy to take second and 20 points. "Yeah, it's about time I had a little bit of luck," he said.

"After the last few races where we've dropped so many points due to problems here and there, I think to get these 20 points back is good for us

"Now we've just got to go to Portimao and keep our heads. If I can just cruise round and get some points and take the title I'll be happy. We deserve it."

Crutchlow now sits on 230 points at the top of the championship, with Eugene second and still with a slim chance on 210

Race Result:

1 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 32'21.660 (155,389 kph)
2 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 0.937
3 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 5.910
4 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 20.797
5 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 20.992
6 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 21.232
7 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 21.441
8 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 23.539
9 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 24.654
10 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 35.848
11 199 Four O. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 36.243
12 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 36.803
13 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 52.022
14 101 Coghlan K. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 55.274
15 28 Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 55.831
16 82 Enjolras J. (FRA) Triumph Daytona 675 56.277
NC 45 Linfoot D. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 55.550
NC 9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 56.753
NC 88 Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1'13.676
RET 77 Veneman B. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 25.198
RET 25 Laverty M. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR
RET 22 Muresan R. (ROU) Triumph Daytona 675
RET 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675
RET 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR
RET 5 Pradita T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6
RET 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6
RET 61 Auger F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6
RET 23 Davies C. (GBR) Triumph Daytona 675
RET 16 Lowes S. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR