SBK Race Summary
Two action-packed races held under clear Spanish skies saw two different winners make their mark, Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) in race one and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) in race two. The races could not have been more different, with Haslam a clear leader in an uninterrupted contest, while Haga won an aggregate race two by only 0.025 seconds. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) scored two podiums today, while James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda) and Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) also put in top three rides.
Giorgio Barbier (Racing Director, Pirelli Moto Official Tyre Supplier) says: “Valencia is a challenging circuit for tyres as its tight corners and asphalt conditions demand a precise bike setup and ideal temperature conditions. The ideal race tyre for the Superbike riders this weekend proved to be the SC2 (“B”) front and SC1 (“A”) rear solution, but as the track temperature was 13°C warmer than last year, the higher performing tyre delivered an identical race time with a solution offering more grip in the corners. It was interesting to see BMW achieve a best result ever with Corser’s fourth place finish in Race 1, leaving a signal that the team has found an even more ideal bike setup and consistency.”
“Toseland (Yamaha) was welcomed back to the podium in true form in a spectacular race which forced Biaggi (Aprilia) to push to the limit, having said he feels back at home on Pirelli tyres in Superbike after two years in MotoGP. Haga’s added one more victory to his Valencia career in Race 2 and put Ducati Xerox at the front for the first time since the start of the season. Supersport left a new qualifying record of 1’35.658 by Laverty (Honda), but his slight mistake in the middle of the race left the door opened for the local hero and track expert, Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki) to take the win.”
Superbike Race One
HASLAM HAS IT
Leon Haslam had a comfortable win in the end, after early leader Carlos Checa went out with a technical problem, and Max Biaggi could not make up the ground to get back into winning contention. James Toseland’s return to WSB in 2010 was marked by his first podium on his Sterilgarda Yamaha four, while BMW Motorrad Motorsport earned a great fourth place with Troy Corser, the highest ever SBK place for the team since entering WSBK last year. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) fought through to fifth, but could not pass Corser in the final laps.
WSBK Race 1 Results:
1 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 36’47.723 (150,206 kph) B/A
2 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1.757 B/A
3 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 3.621 B/A
4 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 4.209 B/A
5 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 4.378 A/A
6 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 9.834 B/A
7 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 10.466 B/A
8 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 16.080 B/A
9 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 18.382 B/A
10 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 18.589 B/A
11 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 22.903 C/A
12 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 25.203 B/A
13 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 25.676 B/A
14 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 26.606 B/A
15 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 43.797 B/A
16 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 48.094 B/A
17 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 48.190 B/A
18 17 Andrews S. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 52.863 B/A
RET 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR B/A
RET 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. C/A
RET 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R B/A
RET 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R C/A
RET 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R A/A
RET 123 Resch R. (AUT) BMW S1000 RR B/A
Superbike Race Two
HAGA WINS BIG BY A SMALL MARGIN
Haga secured his first race win of 2010 after a tense fight with second place rider Checa and Biaggi. A two part aggregate race was required after a crash on lap four of the first heat brought out the red flags. Simon Andrews and Vittorio Iannuzzo both had heavy falls at high speed on the start/finish straight, but two fractures to Andrews’s left foot and heel were the final result.
The total time from the first three laps, and the time from a second heat of 20-laps were combined to find the final results. The margin of victory in the two-part race was 0.025 seconds between Haga and Checa, with Biaggi only 0.0299 from the win, in third place.
WSBK Race 2 Results:
1 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 36’51.500 (149,95 kph) A/A
2 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 0.025 B/A
3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 0.299 B/A
4 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 10.100 B/A
5 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 12.811 B/A
6 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 13.459 B/A
7 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 14.845 B/A
8 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 14.861 C/A
9 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 15.202 B/A
10 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 18.071 B/A
11 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 25.179 B/A
12 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 26.116 B/A
13 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 30.189 B/A
14 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 30.387 B/A
15 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 35.741 C/A
16 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 43.244 B/A
17 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 43.540 B/A
18 123 Resch R. (AUT) BMW S1000 RR 47.145 B/A
19 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 48.502 B/A
20 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 51.838 B/A
RET 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R B/A
RET 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. C/A
RET 17 Andrews S. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R B/A
RET 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR
HASLAM EXTENDS HIS LEAD
In the championship, Leon Haslam’s fourth in the second of today’s races gives him 123 points to Biaggi’s 105 and Checa’s 80. Haga is on 79 points, in fourth place. After a sixth and fifth today, Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) is now fifth on 60 points, while Toseland and Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare) are tied on 50 points. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) had two no-scores leaving him eighth on the same 46 points as the ever-improving BMW of Troy Corser. Leon Camier led race two for Aprilia but fell for the second time today, scoring no points.
Kawasaki Racing Team rider Tom Sykes went 11th and 15th, now sitting in 16th place overall.
RIDER COMMENTS
Leon Haslam says: “To make the break was a bit of a surprise, because I felt we could race the other guys, but for sure it would be a big battle to the end. But when I got to the lead I saw the lap times I was doing were not so great and I knew that Max and the others guys could go quicker, it had been proven. But I kept my rhythm and when I saw a small gap behind I pushed again and the gap became bigger and bigger. It’s great to win another race and leave with the championship lead.”
Noriyuki Haga says: “I like Valencia a lot. I am Mr Valencia! Before the red flag in race two I made a good start and was in fifth position. In the restart I started from fifth and I kept a good pace. It was not easy to catch and pass the top two riders but in the last few laps I pushed hard and took the win. I was not thinking about the time difference I just knew I had to go at the front.”
Max Biaggi says: “We had a very nice race in race two, just like the first one. The temperature went up a lot in the second race, which meant that the grip went down. Nori and Carlos were in front of me in race two and they deserved their places. I could not follow Haga in the last two laps because he was very fast but second and third at Valencia are two good results.”
Carlos Checa says: “It was a good weekend; if not the first race then the second one, when I was battling right to the end. I thought I could control the second part of race two by sitting behind Max but then Nori arrived and broke up the group. I tried to catch him at the end but I could not make up the difference. Anyway I think it was a good result.”
James Toseland says: “I think Max was slightly faster than me after half race distance in race one, but I was stronger where you can pass another rider, and that made it difficult for him to overtake. Once he did get past, he helped me take a couple of tenths of a second from my lap times and I kept ahead of Corser and Haga. I couldn’t do any more but we are getting better all the time.”
SBK Championship Points Standing (after 3 Rounds of 13): 1. Haslam 123; 2. Biaggi 105; 3. Checa 80; 4. Haga 79; 5. Rea 60; 6. Toseland 50; 7. Guintoli 50; 8. Fabrizio 46; 9. Corser 46; 10. Crutchlow 41
Wolrd Superbike Manufacturers Standing: 1. Suzuki 123; 2. Ducati 107; 3. Aprilia 105; 4. Honda 61; 5. Yamaha 57; 6. BMW 47; 7. Kawasaki 13
Supersport Race
Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com) won his home race at Valencia, taking advantage when his rivals slowed to post the fastest lap of the race and make a break before mid-race distance had been completed.
A sometimes-tight battle for second saw Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Chaz Davies (ParkinGO Triumph BE1) go head-to-head, until Sofuoglu broke away with four laps remaining.
The struggle for fourth place went to local man David Salom (ParkinGO BE-1 Triumph). He passed Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) in the later stages of the 23-lap race. At the top of the table, Lascorz now has 65 points to Sofuoglu’s 61.
Results: 1. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 37’32.610 (147,213 km/h); 2. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR 600 RR 3.193; 3. Davies C. (GBR) Triumph 675 Daytona 5.417; 4. Salom D. (ESP) Triumph 675 Daytona 8.317; 5. Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR 600 RR 10.757; 6. Rea G. (GBR) Honda CXBR 600 RR 38.866; 7. Lagrive M. (FRA) Triumph 675 Daytona 38.926; 8. Lundh A. (SWE) Honda CBR 600 RR 50.902; 9. Hsrm R. (DEN) Honda CBR 600 RR 56.653: 10. Foret F. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’01.495…..
Championship standing (after 3 Rounds of 13): 1. Lascorz 65; 2. Sofuoglu 61; 3. Laverty 41; 4. Davies 33; 5. Salom 32; 6. Foret 28; 7. Harms 25; 8. Rea 24; 9. Pirro 21; 10. Roccoli 17
Manufacturers standing: 1. Honda 70; 2. Kawasaki 65; 3. Triumph 42
Superstock Race
Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) won his second race of the 2010 season today, by 3.080 seconds from Davide Giugliano (Team06 Suzuki) after Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Race Junior Honda) had crashed out of contention for second place. The final podium place was taken by Sylvain Barrier (Garnier Junior Racing BMW). In the championship, Badovini, on 50 points, leads Giugliano and Barrier, who are each on 29.
Results: 1. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 21’18.245 (146,719 kmh); 2. Giugliano D. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 3.080; 3. Barrier S. (FRA) BMW S1000 RR 4.693; 4. Magnoni M. (ITA) Honda CBR 1000 RR 5.971; 5. Baz L. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R1 9.169; 6. Antonelli A. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 9.313; 7. Tutusaus P. (ESP) KTM 1198 RC8 R 9.705 ; 8. Barragan S. (ESP) Honda CBR 1000 RR 15.553; 9. Bussolotti M. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 16.151 ; 10. Baroni L. (ITA) Ducati 1198 16.410…
Championship standing (after 3 Rounds of 13): 1. Badovini 50; 2. Giugliano 29 ; 3. Barrier 29; 4. Baz 27; 5. Berger 20; 6. Bussolotti 18; 7. Antonelli 18; 9. Tutusaus 14;10. La Marra 10
Manufacturers standing: 1. BMW 50; 2. Honda 33; 3. Suzuki 29; 4. Yamaha 27; 5. KTM 14; 6. Kawasaki 10; 8. Aprilia 9; 8. Ducati 6
SBK Race 1 – Pirelli BEST LAP
Carlos Checa (Althea Racing), 1’34.750 (Lap 2)
SBK Race 2 – Pirelli BEST LAP
Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing), 1’34.632 (Lap 8)
Total BEST LAP (SBK): Biaggi M. (Aprilia Alitalia Racing): 2, Checa C. (Althea Racing): 2, Haslam L. (Suzuki Alstare): 1, Guintoli S. (Suzuki Alstare): 1,
WSS – Pirelli BEST LAP
Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com), 1’37.049 (Lap 7)
Total BEST LAP (WSS): Laverty E. (Parkalgar Honda): 1, Pirro M. (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda): 1, Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com): 1
STK1000 – Pirelli BEST JUMP FORWARD
Michal Salac (MS Racing), From 26th to 14th (12 positions)
