Superbike Race 2
Starting from fifth on the grid, Team Alstare Suzuki rider Leon Haslam battled intensely for his third win of the 2010 World Superbike season during Race 2 at Kyalami, South Africa. Taking his victory after leading only the last lap, the Britton has now extended his lead to 222 points, 15 ahead of Aprilia Alitalia Racing rider Max Biaggi.
Leon Haslam says "Racing is all about winning and I felt I was in a position where I was strong in a few places and I had to go for it. And it worked out. It was a high risk last few laps with the front and rear moving about but we didn’t make too many mistakes and we won."
Haslam chased second-place finisher Jonathan Rea down to the very end of the race. After starting from 11th on the grid, The HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider of Northern Ireland charged up to the front, gaining the lead on lap 2 of 24. Rea would lead until the penultimate lap, when Haslam would overtake him, winning by 0.522 of a second.
Jonathan Rea says "It seems we now have a base with the bike that works everywhere. I really enjoyed the second race, it was good fun but I wanted to win so badly. Leon rode well and every time he passed me he would run deep and I was able to cut back inside. With six laps to go at the end I thought I was going to get swallowed up, because I kept watching other people’s pit boards to see who was in the group, and my mind was working overtime. With two laps to go I thought maybe it would be mine if I just covered myself, but Leon made a lunge three corners from the end of the penultimate lap."
Taking the last podium spot was Biaggi, who said that Kyalami doesn’t suit the Aprilia’s needs. The Italian tried taking the lead from Rea, but was unsuccessful. The race was a three-way battle up front between Rea, Biaggi and Haslam. But on lap 14, Haslam would take second from Biaggi, and began chasing down Rea.
Max Biaggi says "A nice and close race. In race two I made a good start and that was maybe 50-percent of the final result. In race 1 I was held up and could not go through but in race 2 I went away with top two guys and could match their pace. At the end I tried but my attack did not come off."
Rounding out the top five were pole-sitter Cal Crutchlow on his Yamaha Sterilgarda R1, and privateer Althea Ducati rider Carlos Checa.
The winner of Race 1, Xerox Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio, finished in eight, as his teammate Noriyuki Haga, struggled again, but managed a 10th-place finish. The only American competing in the series, Team Pedercini Kawasaki rider Roger Lee Hayden, finished in 19th.
World Superbike Kyalami Race 2 Results:
1. Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX R 1000, 139’52.870 (153.312 km/h)
2. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR 1000 RR, -0.522
3. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4, -0.601
4. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R 1, -0.991
5. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1198, -1.479
6. Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1, -13.324
7. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S 1000 RR, -13.740
8. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1198, -14.250
9. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1198, -15.190
10. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1198, -16.790
11. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S 1000 RR, -21.101
12. Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1198, -22.670
13. Byrne S. (GBE) Ducati 1198, -24.506
14. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R, -31.301
15. Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX R 1000, -31.836
16. Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10 R, -33.710
17. Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR 1000 RR, -35.203
18. Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR 1000 RR, -55.929
19. Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10 R, -56.074
20. Baioco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX10 R, -1:08.481
World Superbike Point Standings (after 6 of 13 rounds):
1. Haslam 222
2. Biaggi 207
3. Rea 141
4. Checa 141
5. Toseland 125
6. Haga 106
7. Corser 105
8. Fabrizio 95
9. Crutchlow 86
10. Camier 82
World Superbike Manufacturers Standings:
1. Suzuki 222
2. Aprilia 213
3. Ducati 185
4. Honda 150
5. Yamaha 135
6. BMW 108
7. Kawasaki 39
