The World Supersport championship may have acquired WTR Ten 10 as a new entry, but they’ve just lost the long standing Parkalgar Honda team.
The team run by Paulo Pinheiro has decided to withdraw their WSS efforts after six years of racing and 12 wins with former WSS rider Eugene Laverty finishing as runner-up in 2009 and 2010, citing that the pullout is due to the current economic climate.
“It was a difficult but unavoidable decision to take,” said AIA (Portimao circuit) manager Paulo Pinheiro.
“Ours was without a shadow of doubt a successful project: our aim was to make Portimao’s Autodromo Internacional do Algarve circuit known throughout the world and in this we succeeded.
Nevertheless, without the support of other backers, it was no longer possible to continue with the same conditions and ambitions in 2012.
We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of the project, as well as the riders who defended our colours over the years: Simone Sanna, Eugene Laverty, Sam Lowes, Josh Hayes and obviously Miguel Praia.
A special and sad mention must also go to Craig Jones: we will never forget him, he was an exceptional rider and person.
”Praia who has been with the team since day one said,“I’m really sad at the moment, but at the same time I can consider myself proud to have been part of the project.
We started off as the smallest team in the paddock and we reached the top of the category.
With Parkalgar Honda I’ve had the best years of my career, they gave me the chance to improve as a rider and get some good results.
Unfortunately our efforts have not allowed us to continue in 2012.
In Portugal the only sport that has influence is football, everything else takes second best despite the results and the visibility for the country throughout the world.
All that’s left for me now is to look for alternatives for the future, my hopes are to continue with Honda and with a competitive project.
I’m convinced that it’s still not time for me to stop.
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