LAVERTY CHASES PODIUM CREDIT SCORE EN ROUTE TO TITLE Michael Laverty is focussed on winning rides in this Sunday’s ninth round of the 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Donington Park to boost his podium credit ratings ahead of the Showdown for the title sequence which begins with the following round at Assen, Holland. The Ulsterman qualified as a “title-fighter” last time out at Cadwell Park when he powered his Samsung Honda to a brace of third places, ensuring that he has one of the six coveted places among the elite riders who will challenge for the title over the final seven races. But Laverty knows that he has to aim for maximum scores at the Leicestershire Grand Prix circuit, making every effort to land the six podium credit points on offer as currently he is 21 down on the current series leader, defending champion Tommy Hill who rides Yamaha. Sandwiched in between them are Suzuki’s Josh Brookes and Kawasaki riding Shane Byrne, the latter missing this round through shoulder injuries. That leaves two places to be fought for and two Honda riders are in the frame to go forwards. Alex Lowes, who gave the WFR team their first ever pole start and podium finish at Cadwell Park moved into sixth place, a handful of points down on BMW rider Tommy Bridewell. Ian Lowry, the Thruxton race winner for the Padgetts equipe is in close contention to Lowes. The rider they will be watching, and aiming to run ahead of will be the Japanese ace Noriyuki Haga. He is determined to ride to battle for a place in the top despite sustaining a broken left collarbone in a tumble at Cadwell Park. Haga face a fitness test at Donington Park to ascertain if he can ride. Adding to the intense scrap for those two remaining places will be James Westmoreland aboard the second WFR Fireblade and local hero Chris Walker riding Kawasaki, but already out of the frame is Jon Kirkham aboard the second Samsung Honda, the winner of the first race of the season who has struggled for pace and consistency after his horrific crash at Oulton Park back in May. The mechanism of the Showdown is that after this round at Donington Park, the leading six riders in the overall standings will have their current scores deleted, and each will be given a score of 500 points to which will be added the podium credit scores they have accumulated in performances across the first nine rounds. In this way, the fight for the country’s premier crown goes all of the way to the final round, maintaining high spectator appeal. HONDA RIDER QUOTES Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda): “We achieved our objectives last time out by qualifying for the Showdown though it was a bit disappointing that I was unable to challenge for the wins in both of those races. Going into Donington we need to be at our strongest and challenge for two wins we tested there recently, the bike was quite good, but we are still wanting a bit more, by doing a bit more work on the engine set-up. It is a circuit that I like, I was strong their last season and while the pressure is off me in terms of making the cut to the top six there is a different pressure now to score big podium credit points.” Jon Kirkham (Samsung Honda): “After qualifying and the first race at Cadwell Park we were nearer to the front and I am keen to follow that and pull something out of the bag at Donington Park. The boys are working hard on the bike, tweaks to the engine. We are working on development all of the time and will get improvement and that will stand me in good stead for these races. We tested there and that gave use some good pointers for the races and I will be riding hard to put on a show for my family, friends, sponsors and the team. I am quite excited about riding at my home circuit.” Alex Lowes (WFR Honda): “My goal is stay in the top six to be in the Showdown. The results at Cadwell Park had been a long time coming and were deserved for the team that has worked really hard to get there. Donington Park is my favourite track, and now I live in Derby it is also my home circuit. We tested well there and I am feeling as good as I can, riding the best that I can, so now I have to stay calm and ride for the results that are needed.” Ian Lowry (Padgett’s Honda): “The guys are working hard to give me a good package for these races to be successful. We have been fast all season, but have not had the consistency, suffering five DNFs. We have tested at Donington and the bike seemed OK, but we are working to take it on another step. I will be giving these races everything. It needs to be a good weekend, I have to be in the top six at the end of this meeting, it is as simple as that.”