WSS Nurburgring practice: Crutchlow dominant, Laverty on fire

Cal Crutchlow stamped his authority on the Nurburgring race weekend with a blistering lap time in the second free practice session 1.8 seconds faster than his closest rival. The in form Brit’s lap time was a staggering two seconds faster than last year best lap set by Broc Parkes on the same factory Yamaha R6.

Title rival Eugene Laverty had a dramatic session after his Parkalgar Honda spectacularly caught fire following an engine failure. Laverty was able to ride the bike off track, but was forced to watch his race winning bike burn while marshals took an age to reach him and put it out.

Speaking to MCN Laverty said: “I was exiting turn four in third gear and as I went for fourth I felt something go bang. I pulled in the clutch and looked down at the bike but I didn’t see any flames. I’ve never had a bike do this before. I pulled off the track but there were no marshals and it felt like I had to wait a long time for them to come and put it out.”

Despite the incident, Laverty remained composed and was able to go out on his second bike and significantly improve his lap time; ending the session in fourth place.

He said: “The feeling is starting to get better. I’m not looking at what Cal is doing, instead I’m just concentrating on working in my own direction and then we’ll see what we can do for race day.”

Despite the extent of the fire the Parkalgar Honda squad remain confident that they will have two bikes ready for this afternoons qualifying session.

1 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR Yamaha World Supersport Team Yamaha YZF R6 1’58.004
2 26 J. LASCORZ ESP Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’59.827
3 54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 2’00.030
4 50 E. LAVERTY IRL Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 2’00.292
5 21 K. FUJIWARA JPN Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 2’00.728
6 99 F. FORET FRA Yamaha World Supersport Team Yamaha YZF R6 2’00.792
7 51 M. PIRRO ITA Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha YZF R6 2’01.055
8 8 M.AITCHISON AUS Honda Althea Racing Honda CBR600RR 2’01.242
9 55 M.ROCCOLI ITA Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR 2’01.307
10 24 G. MCCOY AUS ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Triumph Daytona 675 2’01.504
11 1 A. PITT AUS HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 2’01.539
12 25 M. LAVERTY GBR Echo CRS Grand Prix Honda CBR600RR 2’01.764
13 77 B. VENEMAN NED George White Ten Kate R. Honda CBR600RR 2’01.774
14 69 G. NANNELLI ITA ParkinGO Triumph BE1 Triumph Daytona 675 2’01.833
15 127 R. HARMS DEN Veidec Racing RES Software Honda CBR600RR 2’02.005
16 117 M. PRAIA POR Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 2’02.152
17 13 A. WEST AUS Stiggy Racing Honda Honda CBR600RR 2’02.820
18 96 M. SMRZ CZE MS Racing Triumph Daytona 675 2’02.871
19 105 G. VIZZIELLO ITA Stiggy Racing Honda Honda CBR600RR 2’02.877
20 9 D. DELL’OMO ITA Kuja Racing Honda CBR600RR 2’02.901
21 30 J. GÜNTHER GER RES Software Veidec Racing Honda CBR600RR 2’02.926
22 91 K. WAHR GER G-LAB Racing Sport Evolution Triumph Daytona 675 2’03.071
23 28 A. VOS NED Veidec Racing RES Software Honda CBR600RR 2’03.405
24 16 S. LOWES GBR Echo CRS Grand Prix Honda CBR600RR 2’03.544
25 5 T. PRADITA INA YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF R6 2’03.944
26 88 Y. GUERRA ESP Holiday Gym Racing Yamaha YZF R6 2’05.284
27 101 K. COGHLAN GBR Holiday Gym Racing Yamaha YZF R6 2’06.445
28 22 R. MURESAN ROU MS Romania Racing Triumph Daytona 675 2’06.570