A winner of three of the first six races of the 2009 World Supersport season, Eugene Laverty has now gone seven rounds without a victory - something he plans to change as he takes a slim chance of title victory into Sunday's Portimao season finale.

Laverty remains in the title fight because championship leader and five-time 2009 race winner Cal Crutchlow has suffered two non-scores, while Laverty has finished every round in the points.

However a fall by the Parkalgar Honda rider last time out at Magny-Cours left Laverty with a season's worst 13th and means he will need a similar result by Crutchlow to take the crown on Sunday.

The Yamaha rider will start the final round 19 points ahead of fellow rookie Laverty, meaning that the Irishman must finish first or second to have any chance of the championship.

As such, his main goal is simply to try and win at his team's home round.

“We had a good test last week at Portimao and are full of confidence. I have now gone so many races without a win and it would be perfect if I could end the season on a high and win it at our home circuit,” said Eugene. “I can only win the Championship if I finish first or second; that is what I must do and Cal knows what he has to do as well.

“I'm all for good sportsmanship and will ride my own race and may the best man win.

“The circuit at Portimao is one that you could never get bored of, it is pure class. You can work with the technicians to set-up the bike but so much still depends on the rider because of the nature of the turns and elevations. It was made for a Supersports bike and is great fun.”

“We had a positive test at Portimao and the pressure is off us and Eugene in the championship stakes – but he will be going all out to win the race at our home track,” confirmed team manager Simon Buckmaster. “If we win the race we'll see what happens with Cal - he starts as favourite for the world championship but there is a lot of pressure on him it is not over yet.”