Eugene Laverty has said he is “devastated” to learn of Shaun Muir Racing’s (SMR) decision to replace him with Tom Sykes, and believes it will be a struggle to find a comp🙈etitive spot on next s♔eason’s World Superbike grid.

After a tumultuous year, the 32-year old🐻 was hopeful he had done enough to secure a place in the SMR squad, which will switch from Aprilia to BMW machinery, next year.

2018 has been far from straightforward for Laverty, whose early season was disrupted by🍬 a horrific pelvic injury, sust♐ained at the second round of the year.

He then made a rapid recovery, returning to score two podium finishes and 𓃲a pole position after a three-round absence, and sits ninth in t꧙he current championship standings, a place ahead of team-mate Lorenzo Savadori.

Laverty’s comments indicate he believed he was in-line to front SMR’s challenge with factory-ba꧟cked BMWs in 2019, and stated his belief that Sykes – currently fourth overall – has been “underperforming” over the past two seasons.

“I’m devastated to hear the news that Tom Sykes will be replacing me at this late st♐age as I was excited at the prospect of riding the factory BMW in 2019,” said Laverty.

“Tom’s a great rider but in the past two seaso🧜ns he’s only outscored his teammate in 5 out of 50 races. I’m a ꦆnumbers guy so that’s the definition of underperforming in my opinion.‬

‪”Since returning from injury this year I’m proud of my performance on the Milwaukee Aprilia. When you consider two statistics it’s clear that the Super🐲bike World Championship has been dominated by three other manufacturers lately:‬

“Prior to my back-to-back podiums at Laguna Seca and Misano it had been 55 rওaces since a non Kawasaki, Ducati or Yamaha was on the podium. (Honda at Magny Cours in October 2016).‬

“Prior to my pole position at Portimao it had been 36 rounds since a non Kawasaki, Ducati or Yamaha cli♛nched Superpole. (Honda at Buriram in March 2🐽016).‬

“The last non Kawasaki, 𒐪Ducati or Yamaha to win a race was also Honda at Sepang in May 2016. Just two opportunities remain in Qata❀r to end that 70 race run with a win before the SMR team and I part ways.

“My crew at SMR have been a pleasure to work with. Theꦺy are a fantastic group of guys and they worked tirelessly this year. I only hope I get the opportunity to work with them again in the near future.‬”

The remaining options to stay𓆉 in the series are limited, but it is believed the Red Bull-backed Ten Kate Honda team may be one possibility. Laverty has nonetheless vowed to fight for a place on next year’s grid.

“It won’t be easy to find a seat having been informed of my replacement s🥂o late but I won’t give up,” he said. “After all, I’m a figඣhting Irishman.“