Michael Laverty was reunited with the Tyco BMW team at the Northern Irish Bishopscourt Race Circuit for the 40th Sunflower Trophy Races meeting this weekend and the Toomebridge rider wasted no time in familiarising himself back on the TAS Racing prepared Tyco BMW S 1000 RR.
Awarded rider of the meeting, Michael retained his title as the most successful rider in the history of the Sunflower Trophy Races with one race win and two second place podiums in the Superbike class, taking his tally to 19 race victories at the annual event. Dry, intermediate and wet track conditions over the two day race meeting offered some very valuable early track time for the new pairing and an opportunity for Michael to gain some early knowledge of the current S 1000 RR ahead of the 2018 season.
Philip Neill – Team manager: “The Sunflower has provided us with some very valuable early track time for Michael back on the Tyco BMW and for the team to test some set up changes. Of course we would have liked to win the Sunflower trophy and perhaps with a slightly longer race we could have challenged for the win, but fair play to Glenn he rode a great race. However we enjoyed the event as always, it was a pleasure to have Michael back in Tyco BMW colours again. He looked very comfortable on the S 1000 RR and we are looking forward to next season already. Once again thank you to all our sponsors and partners for their continued support.”
Michael Laverty #7: “We didn’t quite manage to win the big trophy this year in the wet conditions, but I was quite happy with how it went overall.
In race one this morning we ran with the intermediate rear, in the damp conditions, then the main feature race of the day was full wet conditions. I led the race at the start but I didn’t have the grip in the first four or five laps, and fell back. Once the tyre started to come to me I felt I could push really hard and I came through strong at the end, setting the fastest lap by quite a distance and although I caught back to Glenn, it was a little too late with it being only a 10 lap race.
I’m really happy with how the bike worked for me in the rain, that was a weak point for me in 2016 but the team has really improved that in the last 12 months. The Tyco BMW feels really nice in heavy rain conditions so I felt really comfortable and after the team made a small change for me I won the last Superbike race of the day.
Overall we were treating this as a test and we tried a lot of different settings. We had a good run in the dry, a good run in the damp and a good run in the wet. I’m coming home with ‘Man of the Meeting’ so I’m happy with that. It’s nice to be back home racing at Bishopscourt and want to thank everyone for all the support.
I’m really looking forward to the 2018 season!”