Haga takes double win

From worldsbk.com

Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB) scored a sensational double win in the 12th round of the HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome in front of 82,000 spectators on Sunday.

The Japanese rider, who hadn't won a race since Nurburgring, took the maximum points, while championship leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) wasted an opportunity to clinch his third title when he crashed out on the final lap of race 2, postponing the race for the title until Magny-Cours.

In race one Haga powered to his fifth win of the season, battling throughout the 24-lap race with an on-form Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati). The Italian tried everything to pass Haga but in the end had to settle for the runner-up slot.

Third place went to Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB), while Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki) recovered from a poor start to grab fourth place from Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Bayliss, who struggled after making a wrong choice of tire.

Seventh went to Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), who ruined a good result in front of his home crowd with a poor start. Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Honda Althea) stalled at the start but then was able to recover to finish eighth.

"I'm really very happy because this weekend my feeling with the bike was very good even though on Friday I had a big crash, but no problem," Haga said. "Also my body is feeling much better now.

"It was quite a tough race, 24 laps here is very long and I had pressure from Max but my bike was good and thanks also to my team for the win."

After winning race 1 Haga then took the honours in the second encounter, but he had to work much harder this time around as Bayliss never let up for one instant.

The race was decided at the hairpin on the final lap, when Troy crashed out at low speed. The Australian thus misses out on a chance to clinch the title with two rounds remaining, although now he needs just 21 points from the last four races to become champion for the third time.

Fabrizio scored a superb second place, which he snatched from Corser on the final lap. Behind the top three Neukirchner and Checa again finished fourth and fifth, while Shinichi Nakatomi (YZF Yamaha) and Regis Laconi (Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse) finished eighth and ninth.

Biaggi and Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) tangled in a nasty-looking crash in the fast section just after the start of the race, the Italian coming away without any serious injury with the Turkish rider suffered bruising in the pelvic area.

"Troy and I had a really big fight and I am sorry for Troy's crash, but I really enjoyed battling with him," Haga said. "It was a great day for me and the team, a big thanks to everyone. Now I have to think about the next round and I will try and push hard again."

Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) scored his third World Supersport win of the season at Vallelunga, dominating the race from start to finish. With this result Rea has reduced to 11 points the gap to points leader, teammate Andrew Pitt, who crashed out from fourth place four laps from the end while trying to pass Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Supersport) for third.

The runner-up slot went to Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport), who still has a chance of the title despite being 30 points behind.

Joan Lascorz (Glaner Motocard.com Honda) scored a positive fifth place, his best result for some time, the Spaniard finishing ahead of Barry Veneman (RES Software Suzuki) and Robbin Harms (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda).

Donington winner Joshua Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda) had a disappointing race, the Australian finishing 12th after receiving a ride-through penalty for cutting the chicane.

Superbike Race 1 Results
1. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 39:25.030 (150.148 km/h)
2. Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +0.129
3. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 +0.535
4. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +5.188
5. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +6.693
6. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 +7.993
7. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 +16.976
8. Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR +18.359
9. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +19.214
10. Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 +19.386
11. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +21.230
12. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +24.956
13. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +25.186
14. Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +31.799
15. Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +33.949
16. Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +34.050

Superbike Race 2 Results
1. Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 39:10.265 (151.091 km/h)
2. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 +1.507
3. Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 +2.268
4. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +11.813
5. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR +17.922
6. Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +18.281
7. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +19.368
8. Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 +19.717
9. Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +23.868
10. Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR +24.198
11. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +25.426
12. Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 +28.384
13. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR +30.436
14. Gimbert S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 +36.490
15. Walker C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +42.903
16. Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 +43.758

World Superbike Point Standings (after 12 of 14 rounds)
1. Bayliss (Ducati) 369
2. Corser (Yamaha) 290
3. Haga (Yamaha) 280
4. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 280
5. Checa (Honda) 262
6. Biaggi (Ducati) 212
7. Nieto (Suzuki) 206
8. Fabrizio (Ducati) 201
9. Kiyonari (Honda) 193
10. Xaus (Ducati) 160