New Yamaha WSBK rider Eugene Laverty visited the team's base in Italy this week.

New Yamaha World Superbike Team rider Eugene Laverty visited the team’s workshops at Germo di Lesmo in Italy this week, taking the opportunity to see firsthand the mechanics in the workshops working on the 2011 YZF-R1 race bike he will ride to challenge for the title next year.

Having completed his first test on the bike following the final round of the 2010 championship at Magny Cours, Laverty also met some of the team members not usually present at the race weekends and get a deeper insight into the team’s base.

“It was nice to spend the day at the workshop and meet the guys who don’t always come to the race track,” said Laverty. “We also studied some data with Frankie from the first test in Magny Cours and looked at where we can improve.

“It gave me some good information for me to understand what I need to do differently and work on at the next test. It has all been really positive and a great opportunity to do it away from the race track with no pressure.

“The workshops were really impressive and I got to see everything, you can it’s very well organised. I’m really looking to getting on the 2011 racebike for the first time next week at Valencia and then Phillip Island at the end of the month to get cracking again!”

The team’s workshops are just a stone’s throw from the Monza circuit and sit next to the Yamaha factory MotoGP team’s workshop.

Frankie Carchedi, Laverty’s crew chief for the 2011 season was also present, both enjoying the chance to discuss changes to the bike’s settings in advance of their one day test in Valencia next week and following test at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia at the end of the month.

Laverty joins the team for the next year having completed two successful years in World Supersport, taking second in the championship after taking the fight to the last race in both seasons.

In his debut test at Magny-Cours following the season finale, Laverty stunned by setting the fastest lap of all in his first ride on the Superbike.