Eugene McManus showcased his determination to his pre-season commitments for the British Supersport Championship by taking part in the Catalunya round of World Supersport this weekend in Barcelona. Although he has ridden the Ducati in Almeria previously, it was his first time on the race-prepared version of the Ducati Panigale V2. The primary objective was to gain valuable track time on the bike whilst competing against world-level competition.
The weekend kicked off with a single free practice session on Friday morning, blessed with favourable weather conditions. However, a minor error early in the session led to McManus experiencing a crash. Fortunately, a red flag triggered by another incident provided the team with an opportunity to prepare the bike for his return to the track. McManus was one of the first riders to enter the track when the session resumed. He finished the session with a best lap time of 1:47.955.
In the subsequent Superpole session on Friday afternoon, McManus secured a time of 1:48.025, positioning him 33rd on the grid for the race.
The team made adjustments to the bike for Saturday morning's warm-up session. However, with so little track time they opted for a more familiar bike setting for the first race.
As the 18-lap Race one commenced on Saturday afternoon under clear skies, McManus made a positive start. He went on to match his Superpole lap time and crossed the finish line in 29th position.
Sunday morning's warm-up session presented a damp track, with few riders venturing out. Despite the challenging conditions, McManus opted to complete a few laps. The afternoon brought cloudy skies and cooler temperatures compared to Saturday, setting the stage for an eventful race.
The first attempt at the 18-lap race ended prematurely with several laps remaining due to a rider's crash at turn one. Following a brief delay, the riders resumed their positions after the race was stopped for a six-lap dash. McManus demonstrated his skill and motivation, making a superb start from 31st on the grid and climbing to 25th position by the end of lap one.
Ultimately, he concluded the race in 28th position, further expanding his experience with the Ducati Panigale V2 he will be using this year in the British Supersport series.
Reflecting on the weekend, McManus expressed gratitude to Rokit Halsam Racing for the opportunity to compete at the world level and highlighted the invaluable experience gained.