From the World Superbike Championship
Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) moved an impressive 68 points clear of his nearest challenger in the World Superbike Championship after two 20-lap races held in hot and steamy conditions in front of 64,000 fans at Brno in the Czech Republic on Sunday.
Biaggi has now won 10 races at Brno in all classes of competition, but on Sunday he had to share top billing with race one winner Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda). The British rider added to his Assen double with a virtual flag-to-flag win to take his victory tally for 2010 to three.
Biaggi could not do his usual double but was peerless in race two, after changing his set-up between races and capitalizing when the track temperature jumped up by almost 10 degrees.
The other podium places were shared by Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda) and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), but in the championship fight itself, the fate of Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) in each race had the most effect. Eighth in race one and 10th in race two put Haslam on 284 points to Biaggi’s class-leading 352.
Rea is now third on 203 and Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) is fourth on 189 after finishing ninth and sixth on Sunday.
Rea ground out a great win in race one, by 2.5 seconds from Biaggi’s Aprilia, putting himself back into the spotlight after some tough races in the past few weeks. His last podium before this had been at Kyalami, back in May.
“At the start I didn’t really know what was going on but I ended up going to the front," Rea said. "This race win I’d like to dedicate to my team boss, Ronald ten Kate, who is not here with us this weekend.
"Today it was like out there on the bike I could do nothing wrong. Now I’ll go back to the guys and prepare a better bike for race two and see what we can do. I just had to capitalize on Max’s weaknesses in some corners, it was a really difficult race out there and very hot."
“We came here on Friday and we didn’t really have the same feeling as I had last year so we tried to set up the bike as close as last year’s machine," Biaggi said. "Basically we improved, but my feeling was not great. Unfortunately this weekend has been like this, but we will make some modifications for race two and hopefully there will be some surprises.”
Pole man Crutchlow rode hard and well to take third place.
“To say I’m disappointed is probably an understatement," Crutchlow admitted. "I went into the race with high hopes, the grip yesterday was really good for us and in the heat but as you saw we were struggling with rear grip from the start. Johnny rode fantastic and rode away from me, and also Max. I tried my best and that’s all I can do.”
Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare) equalled his best race finish of fourth, while Ruben Xaus (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) had his best result yet on his German machine, fifth.
Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), fast in early qualifying but 15th after Superpole, recovered well to go sixth, holding off James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda) who has been suffering from a chest infection at this race.
In race two Biaggi found the last one percent of speed he was missing in race one to record his ninth win of the season, giving him a 50 percent win ratio so far.
“Knowing the track quite well here and the passion of the fans in the Czech Republic, we tried something really special and made some changes on the bike, weight distribution and gearbox and the result was very good so I’m happy," Biaggi said. "For me it’s the 10th victory here, and this is my second home country. I love this place!”
Rea was an early leader but finally finished a clear second, 4.6 secs. behind the Italian, with Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) third, the only Ducati podium spot of the day.
“Max did an unbelievable pace," Rea admitted. "I know how hard it was to hold on to second and he was going away from us, but anyway it’s been a good weekend with a 1-2 today. Thanks for all my team for digging deep this weekend and giving me a package that I could race with.”
“I hope I can continue this way for the rest of the season," said Fabrizio. "We did a very good result in race two, especially after the problem I had in the first race. I had to defend my position of course in the battle with Xaus but I’m pleased to be back on the podium again.”
Two-time champion Toseland made a great recovery from 12th on lap one to fourth, catching and passing Haga with one lap to go. Checa was sixth, Guintoli seventh and Biaggi’s team-mate Leon Camier eighth.
Shane Byrne (Althea Ducati) got ninth, one place up on the luckless Haslam, who now goes to his home race of Silverstone to try and claw back points from Biaggi.
Crutchlow pitted to change a rear tire in race two, and when he went back out he set a new lap record in race conditions, with a 1:59.291.
A fabulous World Supersport win for Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) saw him hold off long time race leader Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com) by only 0.124 secs. after 18 laps of close action, conducted in hot temperatures.
With Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) not finishing, Sofuoglu now has 183 points, Lascorz 168 and Laverty 161.
Third on Sunday was ParkinGO Triumph BE-1 rider, Chaz Davies, with Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech Honda) fourth, with each of those two riders suffering technical issues that held back their final race times.
Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia STK) had to work until the very last corner of the 12-lap Superstock race but he still took his sixth win in six races to lead the championship on a perfect 150 points. He was hit from behind early in the race by Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Junior Race Honda) but held on to win by only 0.286 secs. from Ducati rider Lorenzo Zanetti (SS Lazio Motorsport), who was competing in his first full status Superstock FIM Cup race.
Superbike Race One Results
1. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 40:16.037 (161.014 km/h)
2. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory +2.518
3. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 +4.071
4. Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +7.160
5. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000RR +8.602
6. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R +11.379
7. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 +11.513
8. Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +16.487 (B/B)
9. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R +20.829
10. Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R +25.164
11. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R +32.602
12.Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R +36.748
13. Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR +39.183
14. Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +59.889
15. Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +1:05.329
Superbike Race Two Results
1. M. BIAGGI (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 40:12.236
2. J. REA (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR +4.627
3. M. FABRIZIO (ITA) Ducati 1098R +13.600
4. J. TOSELAND (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 +16.372
5. N. HAGA (JPN) Ducati 1098R +17.530
6. C. CHECA (ESP) Ducati 1098R +21.704
7. S. GUINTOLI (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +23.769
8. L. CAMIER (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory +25.875
9. S. BYRNE (GBR) Ducati 1098R +30.374
10. L. HASLAM (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 +34.002
11. L. LANZI (ITA) Ducati 1098R +34.691
12. B. PARKES (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR +49.270
13. R. HAYDEN (USA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +1:03.258
14. C. CRUTCHLOW (GBR) Yamaha YZF-R1 +1 Lap
15. M. BAIOCCO (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R +1 Lap
Superbike Standings
1. BIAGGI 352
2. HASLAM 284
3. REA 203
4. CHECA 189
5. HAGA 172
6. TOSELAND 160
7. CORSER 149
8. FABRIZIO 147
9. CAMIER 138
10. CRUTCHLOW 138
11. GUINTOLI 138
12. BYRNE 108
13. XAUS 64
14. SMRZ 61
15. SCASSA 53
Pirelli Performance Awards:
SBK Race 1 - Pirelli BEST LAP
Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda Team), 1:59.964 (Lap 3)
SBK Race 2 - Pirelli BEST LAP
Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda Team), 1:59.291 (Lap 12)
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