Ben Spies-less Yamaha Podiums WSBK

WSBK Report

Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike rider Cal Crutchlow showed solid race craft in the second superbike race today, confidently sticking with race leaders Max Biaggi and Leon Haslam to stand on the World Superbike podium for the first time.

After dropping to fourth initially Crutchlow capitalised on his opportunity to move up when Johnny Rea was pushed wide by Haslam going into the first corner on lap three. He was never more than 0.3 seconds from the lead, taking his well earned podium in third at the finish line.

Teammate James Toseland wrapped up the day in race two with style, charging through the pack from 15th, overcoming a number of competitive riders to cross the line in sixth, nearly ten places up from the start.

Race one proved to be a display of consistency and determination from British rider Toseland. Starting from a less than perfect 15th on the grid, Toseland gradually worked his way through the pack. The final lap saw him close down a half second gap, taking Haga on the last corner to steal a well deserved seventh place finish at the line.

His teammate Crutchlow spent the majority of the race in third until an unfortunate low-side crash three laps from the end dropped him to 15th. He managed to pass 14th placed rider Tom Sykes on the last lap to stay in the points.

Crutchlow heads to Valencia in tenth position with 25 points, Toseland heads to the third round in Spain in 11th, tied on points with his team-mate with 25.

Cal Crutchlow
– Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (14th, 3rd)

"It was a tough day today from the first race, I made a stupid mistake, my own fault I was pushing too hard. We’ve made big steps from Australia, all credit to Yamaha they’ve done a fantastic job. We came here fighting but unfortunately in the first race I went down and Johnny Rea got through and got the podium."

"I’m looking forward to the next weekend in Valencia, if we can continue doing a good job and getting the success we’re starting to experience it’ll be a good season, let’s keep the ball rolling. The team have put in a sterling effort this weekend. Well done to Max Biaggi and Leon Camier as well."

James Toseland – Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (7th, 6th)

"We’ve still got a lot of work to do but we’ve made massive improvements. We really deserved the third and sixth in that last race, After Cal’s Superpole he was unlucky to crash in the first race so I’m really pleased with his result in the second. The potential of the bike is very good, once we use the full power of the engine we’re right up there."

"It was only my crash that stopped me being on the front row I think. I was a bit sore today and my head was bit fuzzy after its knock yesterday so I wasn’t completely on form. Considering that and starting from 15th on the grid we achieved some good results. It’s a shame we started on the back foot this year but we’re moving on and we’re keeping on pushing."

2010 WSB Portugal РPortiṃo 28/03/2010
Race 1 – 22 Laps
1    Max Biaggi    Aprilia    ITA    37’59.283
2    Leon Haslam    Suzuki    GBR    0’00.200
3    Jonathan Rea    Honda    GBR    0’06.901
4    Carlos Checa    Ducati    ESP    0’07.457
5    Leon Camier    Aprilia    GBR    0’07.564
6    Shane Byrne    Ducati    GBR    0’11.420
7    James Toseland    Yamaha    GBR    0’18.391
8    Noriyuki Haga    Ducati    JPN    0’18.536
9    Troy Corser    BMW    AUS    0’24.514
10    Ruben Xaus    BMW    ESP    0’32.427
11    Michel Fabrizio    Ducati    ITA    0’35.045
12    Lorenzo Lanzi    Ducati    ITA    0’36.816
13    Sylvain Guintoli    Suzuki    FRA    0’36.841
14    Cal Crutchlow    Yamaha    GBR    0’44.678
15    Tom Sykes    Kawasaki    GBR    0’44.942

Race 2 – 22 Laps
1    Max Biaggi    Aprilia    ITA    38’06.128
2    Leon Haslam    Suzuki    GBR    0’00.191
3    Cal Crutchlow    Yamaha    GBR    0’00.658
4    Carlos Checa    Ducati    ESP    0’01.015
5    Leon Camier    Aprilia    GBR    0’03.123
6    James Toseland    Yamaha    GBR    0’09.131
7    Shane Byrne    Ducati    GBR    0’11.033
8    Noriyuki Haga    Ducati    JPN    0’13.452
9    Sylvain Guintoli    Suzuki    FRA    0’13.964
10    Troy Corser    BMW    AUS    0’16.377
11    Michel Fabrizio    Ducati    ITA    0’26.351
12    Ruben Xaus    BMW    ESP    0’27.964
13    Tom Sykes    Kawasaki    GBR    0’33.566
14    Lorenzo Lanzi    Ducati    ITA    0’33.823
15    Max Neukirchner    Honda    GER    0’37.372

RIDER STANDINGS    28/03/2010
1.    Leon Haslam    Suzuki    GBR    85
2.    Max Biaggi    Aprilia    ITA    69
3.    Carlos Checa    Ducati    ESP    60
4.    Michel Fabrizio    Ducati    ITA    46
5.    Noriyuki Haga    Ducati    JPN    43
6.    Jonathan Rea    Honda    GBR    39
7.    Sylvain Guintoli    Suzuki    FRA    33
8.    Leon Camier    Aprilia    GBR    32
9.    Troy Corser    BMW    AUS    29
10.    Cal Crutchlow    Yamaha    GBR    25
11.    James Toseland    Yamaha    GBR    25
12.    Shane Byrne    Ducati    GBR    25
13.    Lorenzo Lanzi    Ducati    ITA    15
14.    Ruben Xaus    BMW    ESP    10
15.    Jakub Smrz    Ducati    CZE    8

MANUFACTURER STANDINGS    28/03/2010
1.    Suzuki    85
2.    Ducati    71
3.    Aprilia    69
4.    Honda    40
5.    Yamaha    32
6.    BMW    29
7.    Kawasaki    7


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