Miguel scores season best eighth at home
PARKALGAR HONDA’S Miguel Praia thrilled a huge crowd at his home Parkalgar circuit near Portimao in Portugal coming from 12th place with five laps to go to take eighth at the finish line and equal his season best performance in the final round of the World Supersport Championship.
Sam Lowes on his Parkalgar Honda was battling for the lead on lap 10 when he lost the front of his bike and crashed unhurt. Despite remounting he was forced to retire. Sam is racing again at the Sunflower Meeting at Bishopscourt in Northern Ireland on 21st and 22nd October. Local favourite, TT winner and road racer Michael Dunlop will join Sam on the team for this event.
Sam: “I am absolutely gutted not to finish. I felt good, my Parkalgar Honda was great and I was within touching distance of Chaz in the lead. I was pushing hard and simply lost the front. I am disappointed just as much for Parkalgar as I would have loved to have won my first race here at our home track. It’s been a good learning season and a big thank you to all my team and the supporters at Parkalgar – and of course to my fans, we will be back. On it.”
Miguel: “I enjoyed that race a lot. At the start the bike was moving a lot on me and it took me a couple of laps to adapt my riding style. Then as the race wore on I kept my speed and got faster while everyone else was slowing down. I am very happy to equal my best result this season at Parkalgar, the cheering from the fans in the crowd helped me on every pass I made. Thank you to my Parkalgar Honda team and everyone who came here to watch us race, it’s been a great end to the season.”
Simon Buckmaster, Parkalgar Honda Team Manager: “Miguel had the crowd cheering and shouting at the end of the race when he was coming through the field. He rode exceptionally well and this is probably one of his best ever races because he beat such strong competition – that will keep him motivated through the winter for sure.
“Sam was in contention for the race win and went down fighting. We are all disappointed in the race result but I congratulate him on having a fantastic first season at World Championship level. No-one will deny that with the experience he has gained he is going to be a title contender in 2012 and we look forward to that with a lot of relish.
“Thank you to Parkalgar, Elf, LeoVince, A&A Lamb, CIA Insurance, Bogdanka and Honda for all their support this season, it’s been a fantastic season and now we will focus on 2012 and finalise our plans – more news on that soon.”
Paulo Pinheiro, Parkalgar Chief Executive: “It is a shame that Sam crashed out fighting for the lead but it was a great race for Miguel and he rode very well – at the end of the race he was amongst the fastest on circuit and that shows his potential. Well done to James Ellison on getting on the podium on our sister Bogdanka PTR Honda bike.”
Race Result
1. Chaz Davies GBR ParkinGO Yamaha YZF-R6 20 Laps
2. David Salom ESP Kawasaki Motocard.com ZX-6R +1.253s
3. James Ellison GBR Bogdanka PTR Honda CBR600RR +1.415s
4. Luca Scassa ITA ParkinGO Yamaha YZF-R6 +5.522s
5. Florian Marino FRA Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR +21.658s
6. Roberto Tamburini ITA Bike Service Yamaha YZF-R6 +24.490s
7. Massimo Roccoli ITA Lorenzini Kawasaki ZX-6R +25.506s
8. Miguel Praia POR Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR +32.271s
9. Vladimir Leonov RUS Yakhnich Yamaha YZF-R6 +32.660s
10. Balazs Nemeth HUN Hungary Toth Honda CBR600RR +32.680s
15. Pawel Szkopek POL Bogdanka PTR Honda CBR600RR +54.400s
Final Championship Positions (after 12 of 12 rounds)
1: Davies 206
2: Salom 156
3: Foret 148
4: Parkes 136
5: Scassa 134
6: Lowes Parkalgar Honda 129
7: Ellison Bogdanka PTR Honda 99
8: Marino 89
9: Tamburini 80
10: Roccoli 71
13: Praia 51
21: Szkopek 12.