The Penrith-based PBM MotoGP Team continued their busy schedule with round 11 of the MotoGP World Championship at the bwin Grand Prix Ceske Republiky at Brno this weekend but despite their best efforts, they couldn't muster a point despite both riders seeing the chequered flag.

After a disappointing time in recent rounds at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis, Colombian Hernandez and Ulsterman Michael Laverty were hoping to add to both their own World Championship points scores and to improve their CRT and Manufacturer placings.

Hernandez, from Medelln, on the Rapid Solicitors and Minxflix.com-sponsored Aprilia ART gradually upped his pace in the early free practice sessions before impressing with sixth fastest time in the Q2 Qualifying session to start from row six of the grid in 16th place.

Laverty, from Toome in County Antrim, on the Rapid Solicitors and Minxflix.com-sponsored PBM machine again continued his development work and was bordering on the top 20 throughout free practice and eventually posted 11th fastest time in Q2 to start from row seven.

Hernandez got a great start and ran in the points in the early stages, climbing as high as 14th but with just four laps remaining, he dropped to 16th where he remained until the chequered flag. Laverty got a reasonable start and ran in 17th place for most of the race but was passed towards the end by fellow Brit Cal Crutchlow, who had crashed and remounted, so had to settle for 18th at the finish.

Hernandez remains in 20th overall in the MotoGP World Championship standings as a result although Laverty has dropped a place to 24th in his debut season. In the Claiming Rules Teams (CRT) class, Hernandez now holds seventh with Laverty in tenth whereas PBM occupy eighth in the Constructors Championship and 12th in the Teams Championship in their debut season with their brand new British-built machine.

Michael Laverty: "It was another lonely race for me, I didn't quite have the pace to stay with the group of CRTs in front so once I lost contact I was just racing my lap timer. It was a trying weekend, however we made some small set up improvements for the race which allowed me to post my best times of the weekend. There are a couple of areas we need to work on to bridge the gap up to the next group but I'm confident we will get there and I'm looking forward to my home race at Silverstone."

Yonny Hernandez: "I am happy to have had a good race where I could compete for a finish in the points and had a nice fight with Petrucci and Aoyama. In the last laps my rear grip dropped more than theirs and I could not challenge at the finish, which was disappointing as for most of the race I was in the top 15. I am looking forward to the race next weekend at Silverstone and hope to score points there at the team's home race."

Phil Borley, Technical Director: "It was a mixed weekend at Brno for Paul Bird Motorsport as Yonny had a good feeling and pace in the qualifying sessions and race but Michael did not. After challenging in the points for the majority of the race, Yonny did not have the grip he needed in the last few laps to maintain or improve his position, but he should not be too disappointed as his pace was good and he has been consistently fast all weekend. Michael has not had the feeling and confidence to push during the sessions and although we found some improvements for the race they were not enough to challenge for the points places. We hope we can find a setting that will help him be more competitive in our home race at Silverstone."

Paul Bird, Team Owner: "Both riders gave it their best shot and it wasn't good enough this weekend but we knew this season was going to be very hard and so it is proving. Yonny was unlucky not to get into the points and we have to find a way to get Michael up there also. We have a few things to try when we get to Silverstone and hopefully we can put on a good show in front of our home fans."

Round 11 of the MotoGP World Championship takes place this forthcoming weekend at Silverstone.