Revelling in life with my Mr Ride

Apr 19 2009 by Zoe Burn, Sunday Sun

TRAVELLING the world from week to week with your sports star boyfriend with whom you’re head over heels in love may sound like every girl’s fantasy . . . but it’s real life for Pippa Morson.

The pretty 20-year-old lives an enviable – if not sometimes tiring – lifestyle as she spends nine months a year jetting from country to country, with the rest of it split between her Bishop Auckland home and that of her equally attractive Irish boyfriend, Eugene Laverty.

Eugene, 22, is fast becoming one of the UK’s hottest motorcycle racing stars. Currently racing in the World Supersport Championship – WSS – with his Parkalgar Honda team, the Irishman has already experienced two years in the exclusive MotoGP paddock, racing 250GP machines, as well as several years racing in Britain.

But this year his status has rocketed, after taking his debut WSS win in Qatar last month, and he’s been tipped by pundits across the globe as the next big thing.

And if it’s true that behind every good man is an even better woman, then Pippa is that woman.

Refreshingly laid-back and incredibly friendly, Pippa has put her own life on hold for the past three years to travel with Eugene, helping him manage himself in the cut-throat world of professional racing, looking after things like his personal PR, fanclub and promotion.

The pair met at the end of 2005 at a party at the huge NEC Bike Show. Pippa had worked as one of the MCN BabeSquad that year – a group of beauties who prowled the paddock at British Superbike rounds meeting and chatting to fans – and was looking for work.

“We were getting ready to go out and had gone to collect some guys we knew from their hotel room. Eugene came out of the shower, totally not expecting any girls to be there and, let’s just say, I got a bit of an eyeful!” she laughs.

“We hung out for the rest of the night but that was all. I was actually surprised when he kept texting me afterwards. Eventually he asked if I’d like to meet up with him again.

Click play below to see Eugene Laverty win his first WSS race at Qatar last month as girlfriend Pippa looks on