EugeneLaverty

33-year-old Eugene Laverty is with his fourth team in as many years in 2021 but will be on familiar machinery as he links up with BMW satellite team RC Squadra Corse.

Beginning his tarmac racing career in 2001, the Irishman spent many seasons working his way through the ranks of domestic championships, breaking onto the world scene in 2007. Scoring points in the 250cc World Championship, he made the leap over to the WorldSBK paddock in 2008, before taking on a full-time ride in 2009 in World Supersport.

Taking 12 victories over two seasons in the highly competitive class, Laverty finished runner-up twice before making the step up to WorldSBK. Spending four seasons in the World Superbike Championship, Laverty was involved in many tense battles and found himself a Championship contender, finishing as runner-up in 2013. He then made the leap back to the MotoGP™ paddock in 2015, spending two seasons battling for top ten finishes. After a difficult return to WorldSBK in 2017, Laverty was able to secure two podiums with his Aprilia machine in 2018.

An injury-blighted year on the all-new Team GOELEVEN Ducati V4 R followed in 2019, although the year ended strongly for the Northern Irishman. In 2020, he finally returned to a factory outfit as he linked up with Tom Sykes at BMW. The undoubted highlight came when he secured a stunning pole position in the wet at Magny-Cours.