WorldSBK returnee Eugene Laverty struggled on the opening day of testing at Phillip Island saying there is a strange feeling with the Milwaukee Aprilia and that he wouldn’t be able to race it right now.
The Monegasque finished 2.223s off the pace of fastest man Xavi Fores and says a lot of work needs to be done tonight in order to get back to the feeling he had in Portimao. Rain put paid to at least half the day, so Laverty is looking forward to a full and dry day tomorrow.
“There wasn’t much time today but it was the same for everybody. It was pretty disastrous for us, we didn’t have a natural feeling for the bike. Something is not correct with it which is fundamental. We will have a look tonight and see what we can do tomorrow so I can ride it,” said Laverty, speaking at the track.
“This is the Portimao bike but it is a completely different track and something isn’t feeling right. On the engine side, it feels strange changing direction, and opening and closing the gas. It feels like it’s not in my hand and I can’t really ride the bike at the moment, that’s why I am a couple of seconds off.
“I am confident the guys can sort it out because there is not much point in me doing laps at the moment. I wouldn’t be able to race it at the moment, it’s not a motorbike right now. It’s a strange problem we are suffering.”
