Laverty makes track return alongside Marino

Splitlath Redmond Racing have completed their first pre-season test on track yesterday (Tuesday) at Oulton Park as John Laverty rode again for the first time since recovering from injury alongside his new team-mate Florian Marino.

Laverty and Marino rode the team’s standard specification Aprilias as the pair lapped the Cheshire circuit with serious intentions.

The track time marked Laverty’s track return since recovering from injury last season whilst Frenchman Marino was able to get to grips with arguably the most challenging circuit on the calendar as he prepares for his MCE BSB debut.

Laverty said: “It was good to be back out on circuit and although we were running on Superstock bikes it felt great to be riding again and getting into the swing of things. I think at the start of the day I was riding a bit tense, but I think that was because I hadn’t been on a bike for such a long time.

“I soon relaxed though and it all began to flow again. Today wasn’t about times or going to any extremes, but for me it was getting back out and I am really chuffed by how I felt at the end of the day.”

Marino said: “It was also my first time out on a bike since the end of last season, so I was happy to be on a bike again after about five months. It was the first time I had also ridden a 1000 and the track was new also so I was learning a lot.

“It was a good warm up for me and we completed today what we needed to. It was a fun day with the team.”