Qatari GP: Honda LCR race notes

CHECA MAKES EARLY FROM QATAR GRAND PRIX

The Qatar Grand Prix ended in disappointment for Honda LCR rider Carlos Checa who crashed out of the race after making an impressive surge into eighth position in the early laps. When Checa fell on lap nine he was ahead of factory Honda rider and world champion Nicky Hayden. Checa started 12th on the grid and remained calm for five laps, before passing Chris Vermeulen, Randy de Puniet and Hayden to claim eighth position.

The early exit was an unfortunate end to the opening race of the season which saw Checa post some fast and consistent practice laps which had made him quietly confident. The next race is Checa?s home event, the Spanish Grand Prix.

CARLOS CHECA - DNF

CHECA : "It is a great shame to crash in the first race after all the hard work by the team and my potential after six laps, when I moved forward into the top ten, I was racing strongly. I had just passed Nicky Hayden and was settling into a good rhythm but I had too much brake and lean angle, and lost the front-end. I felt like I had the pace for some good points today but now it?s done, I must look forward to next race at Jerez and fix this mistake".

British rider Eugene Laverty made an impressive start to his 250cc career by finishing 18th in the Qatar Grand Prix. Laverty rode a stirring race despite giving away more the 12 kph in top speed to factory rivals on the straight at the Losail Circuit.

LAVERTY: "That was a valuable learning experience and I?m happy to have finished my first 250 GP. The chassis problems I had in practice went away as the fuel load went down and I could stay ahead of Imre Toth?s Aprilia at the finish. The start was exciting, I passed two riders in turn one, got pushed wide and dropped back and then moved forward again on lap three".

-credit: honda lcr