Arriving at Donington Park for the bwin.com British Grand Prix, Blusens Aprilia rider Eugene Laverty was keen to impress on home turf but a broken steering damper forced the Irishman out with nine laps remaining.
It was a disappointing end to a fantastic ride which had seen Laverty dicing back and forward with five other riders including Roberto Locatelli and Hector Faubel.
Laverty commented :'Well, what can I say? I was giving it my all so for something silly like a loose steering damper to end my race is heartbreaking. I entered McLean’s and felt a problem with the front but when I entered Coppice the front just bounced across the tarmac and I was forced to run off the track.'
He added: 'Just as in Barcelona I was riding at a level above that of the riders around me but because of my lack of horsepower I was being annihilated in a straight line. I’m having to contend with former world champions riding factory machinery so it’s no easy task!
'We’ve got our chassis working well but I need more power. Assen is just a few days away so I must keep my chin up and keep fighting,' he promised.
