World Superbike Report
After a mediocre performance in Superpole, placing him fourth on the World Superbike grid in Kyalami, South Africa, Michel Fabrizio got his Xerox Ducati 1198R up to speed when it counted – Race 1.
Fabrizio surged to lead after the first bend in the 2.64-mile circuit, the Italian dominating all 24 laps to the checkered flag. This was no shock, considering Fabrizio was fastest all day on Friday and early Saturday, although he couldn’t match these previous performances for the Superpole.
And Fabrizio needed the points. He had slipped back to 11th in the championship after he DNF’d in race 2 in Monza; this, combined with two DNFs in Valencia, dropped his standings dramatically. But his first win of the 2010 World SBK season bumped him up to eight.
During the start of the race at the 17-turn track, Fabrizio quickly made his move, slipping by the front-three riders: (in order) Sterilgarda Yamaha riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland, and Althea Racing Ducati rider Carlos Checa. After receiving the third Superpole of the season, Crutchlow had a bad start, immediately falling back to ninth.
Toseland followed behind Fabrizio until Checa passed the Yamaha rider, and began pulling away. Team Alstare Suzuki rider Leon Haslam was in tow behind Toseland in fourth, with Aprilia Alitalia Racing riders Leon Camier and Max Biaggi in fifth and sixth, respectively.
The privateer Checa would be Fabrizio’s only challenger, but the Spaniard would not catch up, finishing 1.098 seconds behind the winner.
By lap three, Haslam had passed Toseland, but the Yamaha rider came right back. But on lap 12, Haslam was able to capitalize after Toseland went wide, and passed for third place, where he would remain until the end.
Four laps later, Biaggi, who doubled at Monza, also took Toseland, and remained there to finish in fourth. Coming in fifth was HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea, who charged through the field at the end of the race after staring in 12th on the grid.
Last year’s winner, who took both races, Noriyuka Haga, finished in 17, almost 36 seconds behind his winning teammate. The only American currently competing, Roger Hayden, DNF’d.
World Supebike Kyalami Race 1 Results:
1. (84) Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R, 139:48.343 (153.602 kph)
2. (7) Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R, -1.098
3. (91) Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000, -5.049
4. (3) Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory, -6.974
5. (65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR, -13.710
6. (2) Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory, -13.848
7. (52) Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1, -16.064
8. (35) Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1, -16.231
9. (96) Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R, -16.580
10. (50) Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000, -23.100
11. (99) Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R, -24.561
12. (11) Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR, -25.504
13. (32) Morais S. (RSA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory, -27.073
14. (111) Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR, -27.273
15. (67) Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R, -30.692
16. (66) Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R, -34.008
17. (41) Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R, -35.948
18. (77) Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R, -44.030
19. (76) Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR, -48.382
RET (95) Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET (23) Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR
RET (15) Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R
