PARKALGAR HONDA Team Manager Simon Buckmaster has managed Cal Crutchlow (2006-2007) and Eugene Laverty (2009) and in typical forthright fashion, he tells us what he thinks of them both and his hopes for the finale of the World Supersport Championship, starting at Magny Cours in France on Sunday October 4th and concluding at the Parkalgar Portimao circuit in Portugal on October 25th. Q: Can Eugene win at Magny Cours? A: Yes. The pressure he was under previously is now gone. He has a second chance to win the Championship now and is in a very positive frame of mind. Q: What are the differences between Cal and Eugene, who will win the Championship? A: Eugene is a genuine nice guy who is smooth and calculating, sometimes to his advantage or disadvantage. Cal is more aggressive, sometimes to his advantage or disadvantage. Over the last three rounds Cal has been stronger but at Imola he felt the pressure and crashed twice before the race and then again in it, swinging the momentum back to Eugene. They are neck and neck and perhaps the title will be decided by the teams supporting them and then obviously I think Parkalgar Honda has an edge. Q: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Parkalgar Honda and Yamaha? A: Chassis wise the Honda is better it has a more predictable front end. Engine wise at the start of the year we had the advantage and then the Yamaha came back and had a slight advantage on us. Right now I think the Honda has reclaimed the engine advantage due to the work we have done and watching the performance on track at Imola. Eugene has a bike advantage over Cal although it has to be said both bikes are good. Q: How much pressure is Parkalgar Honda under? A: None. The only pressure we feel is what we put on ourselves; we expected to be up at the front this year but our budget compared to Yamaha or Ten Kate Honda is a fraction and we have already exceeded any expectations we had for ourselves by taking second in the title race. The team is fantastic and I am proud of one and all. Obviously, for 2010, we will start as title favourites, so the pressure will be on then. Q: Why is Miguel Praia getting the best results of his career now? A: He has a fantastic Crew Chief in Phil Marron and a brilliant Motec electronics package with his well-prepared Parkalgar Honda race bike. We have given him every chance and he has applied his own determination and focus to that package to get the results. It is as satisfying for us to take him from finishing around 20 25th and bring him into the top 10 and realise his potential as it is to have Eugene fighting for the title. I am proud of the team’s effort and of Miguel for their achievements. Q: What is the ideal season finale at the Parkalgar circuit? A: Simply that Eugene wins the Championship at the Parkalgar Portimao circuit which is the team title sponsor it would mean so much to Paulo Pinheiro, Daniel Matos and all of the circuit staff for that to happen and they deserve it. I would also like to see Miguel beat his best ever finish of ninth on home ground in front of his fans, that would cap the season for him.