Laverty: We can fight for wins at Snetterton

Tyco BMW rider Michael Laverty says that despite a slow start to the season on the German manufacturer’s new S1000RR machine, he fully expects to be able to challenge for wins at the next round of the season at Snetterton in six weeks time.

A small change on the bike – which he wouldn’t be drawn into revealing – has made the difference the Northern Irishman has been seeking all season. Discovering the different between the two races at Oulton Park last time out, he was then buoyed by taking is best finish of the season in fourth on the bike in race two.

“I got a lucky fourth place, but my pace was 0.7 faster than the first race, and that was riding a bike that I essentially had never ridden before. It was so different that it was half way through the race before I even started to understand it.

“We found a problem between races that’s been sending us around in circles since pre-season testing. The bike was transformed – completely different to ride for race two – and it explains so many of the problems that we’ve been having so far this year.

“I’m confident now that we can come back at Snetterton and fight for wins – it’s that big of a difference. It’s opened my eyes as to how much we’ve been struggling all year, and now I understand why. It was such a small change – one little part – but it fixed everything.”