Damage limitation for Laverty in the wet at Oulton

The second round of the 2016 MCE British Superbike Championship was a damage limitation exercise for Tyco BMW’s Michael Laverty at a circuit he says is his worst of the 12-round calendar.

The Northern Irish star was unable to make the most of a second row start in the first race, losing vital ground off the line and taking a while to get going thereafter. Eventually finding his rhythm, he picked his way through the pack to take sixth place and pole position for race two.

The 34-year-old was hoping for a dry race in the second outing, but a late rain shower before proceedings kicked off saw riders head off on a wet but rapidly drying circuit. He was in contention for a podium at the mid-distance but lost ground as rain started to fall towards the end of the race eventually finishing fifth. 

“This isn’t my track and those aren’t my conditions,” he said. “In race one I enjoyed it once I got going but in race two I don’t like riding slick tyres on a wet track. I pushed on and got through to third, but a few spots of rain came and Leon [Haslam] and James [Ellison] came past me after I made a small mistake.

“It was good to be in there fighting and this is certainly going to be my worst track this year. I know we can fight for the win everywhere else and even here at Oulton later in the year if the conditions are right. Things are going well, I feel we have a strong package with the Tyco BMW and I’m riding well, so we will take the positives.”

Laverty now sits third in the title chase, 16 points behind his Tyco BMW teammate Christian Iddon who is leading the championship after four consecutive podiums.