EUNAN PUTS IN FRONT RUNNING PERFORMANCE AT CATALUNYA

Yet another new circuit for Eunan and the team this weekend but an incredible circuit steeped in history with all looking forward to the challenge this track in the Catalan hills was to pose. From our track familiarisation lap on Thursday Eunan was looking forward with confidence to riding the Ninja 400 here.

Eunan McGlinchey:
“FP1 started strong for me and I was extremely comfortable on the bike, the step we made at the last round has made it easier for me to push hard to get a fast lap time. I’m also changing my riding to suit these fast-flowing tracks, you have to adapt, or you just can’t get the time you need from the bike. I was looking forward to FP2 to go and push on again as it was me learning each lap to improve on the FP1 time. Unfortunately, the weather put pay to any improvement in the dry as the session started wet. I had never ridden in the wet at a Spanish track, but I soon got a feel for the conditions, our wet setup is always good, and the team done a great job, so it was no different here on the Ninja 400, I eventually topped the times and ending the session P1 overall which was nice, and it gave me even more confidence. My dry time from FP1 put me 31st overall by a margin of just 0.004 and Superpole. I was looking forward to FP3 on Saturday morning to improve again as the track was so flowing to ride. Once again, the thunder showers soaked the track before the session, but conditions were improving quickly. With every lap the conditions did improve, the times tumbled, and I eventually finished the session in P2 with a lap time of 1.58.825 on the still damp circuit but unfortunately not enough to make Superpole. This meant the last chance race which I was on pole for, I made a good start but with the length of the straight I got slipped streamed to turn one which I hadn’t experienced before at the start of a race. Then I got in a battle with 8 riders for P3 and moved to-and-fro in the group. Starting the 8th lap I made a move for 4th position at Turn 10 but just lost the front under braking and crashed. I remounted to finish the race in P17 with a best lap time of 1.57.262. I’m a bit disappointed that our results were not a better reflection of the progress that we have made but a lot of positives again to take away from here as the bike was great all weekend and we showed pace in both wet and dry conditions. It was our best weekend yet and I’m confident with the bike now so let’s see what France brings, thanks to the whole team as always and all my sponsors and supporters”.

Paul Tobin – Team Manager:
“Eunan did a great job again this weekend, learning another new track which was made even more difficult in the mixed conditions showing his pace both wet or dry. He is constantly moving forward and evolving his riding style to suit these big flowing circuits. The lap times are incredibly tight in this ultra-competitive class but the whole team are enjoying the challenge this Championship throws at us and the entire squad done a great job all weekend and we look forward to the French Round now in a couple of weeks. Thanks to all our sponsors and technical partners as always”.