Jonathan Rea & Noriyuki Haga - Valencia WSB 2010

Leon Haslam and Noriyuki Haga took the victory in the World Superbike races in Valencia, Spain this weekend in another thrilling round of the series.

Race 1

Leon Haslam on the Suzuki Alstare machine claimed the win in the first WSB race of the day after starting from fourth on the grid.

It was Troy Corser on the BMW Motorrad Motorsport bike that took the lead at the start ahead of Haslam, Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi. Newcomer Leon Camier slotted into fifth position as Corser made a move to the front before the end of the first lap before losing the place and taking it back again at the start of the second.

On lap four, Checa lost the front end of his Althea Ducati, despite his best efforts to keep the bike up and facing in the right direction he couldn’t make the next right-hander and was forced into the gravel, ending his race and passing the lead to Corser.

Haslam was leading the race with 19 laps left to run as James Toseland lined-up Camier, taking him a couple of laps later.  Camier had a spectacular crash on lap 8 of the race going into turn 7, forcing Sylvain Guintoli to take evasive action and putting him to the back of the field.

Michel Fabrizio on the Xerox Ducati and the second Althea Ducati of Shane Byrne were also out of the race after both crashed in separate incidents.

Haslam now had a clear lead ahead of Corser, Toseland and Biaggi, however, Toseland made an impressive move on Corser as he slipped into second place on lap 10.  Toseland and Biaggi swapped placed several times over the following laps until Biaggi made the move stick with just 4 laps left to run.

In fourth place was Corser followed by Haga, Jonathan Rea and Cal Crutchlow.  Lorenzo Lanzi finished in eighth while Guintoli had managed to battle his way back to ninth position after his earlier off.

Here are the results;

1 4 91 L. HASLAM GBR Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 23 1′34.787 297,5 1′33.961 295,9 25 110 1
2 3 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 23 1.757 1′35.025 300,9 1′33.860 302,6 20 89 2
3 9 52 J. TOSELAND GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 23 3.621 1′35.007 300,9 1′33.988 295,9 16 41 8
4 5 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 23 4.209 1′35.100 295,1 1′34.059 297,5 13 42 7
5 11 41 N. HAGA JPN Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 23 4.378 1′35.329 297,5 1′34.100 290,3 11 54 4
6 7 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 23 9.834 1′35.218 300,0 1′34.235 294,3 10 49 5
7 1 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 23 10.466 1′35.243 298,4 1′33.615 296,7 9 34 10
8 8 57 L. LANZI ITA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 23 16.080 1′35.388 290,3 1′34.261 291,9 8 23 13
9 6 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 23 18.382 1′35.017 297,5 1′34.073 296,7 7 40 9
10 14 96 J. SMRZ CZE Team PATA B&G Racing Ducati 1098R 23 18.589 1′35.841 292,7 1′34.280 292,7 6 14 14
11 18 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 23 22.903 1′36.100 292,7 1′34.894 291,9 5 12 16
12 17 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 23 25.203 1′36.063 298,4 1′34.756 296,7 4 14 15
13 16 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 23 25.676 1′35.910 302,6 1′34.934 294,3 3 8 17
14 15 99 L. SCASSA ITA Supersonic Racing Team Ducati 1098R 23 26.606 1′36.202 288,8 1′34.730 287,2 2 2 19
15 19 88 A. PITT AUS Team Reitwagen BMW BMW S1000 RR 23 43.797 1′36.241 297,5 1′36.088 291,1 1 3 18
16 22 95 R. HAYDEN USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 23 48.094 1′36.782 286,5 1′36.117 288,0
17 21 15 M. BAIOCCO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 23 48.190 1′36.768 286,5 1′36.104 288,8
18 23 17 S. ANDREWS GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 23 52.863 1′36.360 287,2 1′36.329 287,2
————————————————–Not Classified————————————————–
RET 24 31 V. IANNUZZO ITA S.C.I. Honda Garvie Image Honda CBR1000RR 12 11 Laps 1′36.919 292,7 1′36.524 288,0
RET 13 2 L. CAMIER GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 7 16 Laps 1′35.104 296,7 1′34.273 296,7 32 11
RET 10 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 5 18 Laps 1′34.880 297,5 1′34.021 295,1 46 6
RET 12 67 S. BYRNE GBR Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 5 18 Laps 1′34.987 291,9 1′34.246 291,1 25 12
RET 2 7 C. CHECA ESP Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 2 21 Laps 1′34.750 282,0 1′33.840 288,8 60 3
RET 25 123 R. RESCH AUT Team Reitwagen BMW BMW S1000 RR 2 21 Laps 1′37.098 290,3 1′36.639 290,3

Race 2

Noriyuki Haga won the second race of the day after race was decided on aggregate after a huge crash just after the start, meaning it would came down to the final lap as the time-sheets decided who would take the victory after the restart.

British Superbike rider Simon Andrews who had been standing-in for the injured Kawasaki SRT’s Chris Vermeulen, collided with Vittorio Iannuzzo on lap 3 on the home straight.  He his the pit wall at considerable speed and was lucky to have come away with only a broken bone in his foot and a damaged heel.

Andrews said;

“Race one was OK and in race two I got a good start and was finding a decent rhythm. When Tom went past me, I was hoping to stay with him and gain some places but the next thing I knew I was hit from behind on the straight and can’t remember much after that.

“The team are saying I am lucky as from what I’ve been told it looked pretty bad on the TV but my left foot is a bit smashed up and pretty painful right now. I have broken the heel and top bone of my foot and have obviously a few bruises to contend with but overall I’m fine.”

Carlos Checa had the advantage as the restart got underway of 0.658 seconds over Jonathan Rea followed by Max Biaggi, Sylvain Guintoli, Noriyuki Haga and Leon Haslam.

Biaggi was away at the start followed by his team-mate Leon Camier in second place after starting from seventh on the grid.  By turn three, Camier was leading Biaggi with a clear track in front of him while Checa moved into second place on lap 7 but the positions were once again reversed by lap 10.

The race however ended in disaster again for Camier on lap 12 when he suffered his second off of the day going over the brow of turn 12, leaving Biaggi in the lead.

Haga was soon on the tail of Checa, passing him and Biaggi on the same lap to take his spot at the front.  Haga now needed to pull a gap to claim the win, he finished just 0.3 seconds ahead of Biaggi but had done enough to take the victory on aggregate.

Haslam finished the race in fourth place ahead of Shane Byrne in fifth, Rea in sixth, Toseland in seventh, Guintoli in eighth, Crutchlow in ninth and Jakob Smrz in tenth.

Here are the results;

1 11 41 N. HAGA JPN Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 23 1′35.070 1′34.100 290,3 11 25 79 4
2 2 7 C. CHECA ESP Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 23 0.025 1′34.681 1′33.840 288,8 20 80 3
3 3 3 M. BIAGGI ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 23 0.299 1′34.632 1′33.860 302,6 20 16 105 2
4 4 91 L. HASLAM GBR Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 23 10.100 1′35.122 1′33.961 295,9 25 13 123 1
5 7 65 J. REA GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 23 12.811 1′35.335 1′34.235 294,3 10 11 60 5
6 6 50 S. GUINTOLI FRA Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 23 13.459 1′35.289 1′34.073 296,7 7 10 50 7
7 9 52 J. TOSELAND GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 23 14.845 1′35.263 1′33.988 295,9 16 9 50 6
8 12 67 S. BYRNE GBR Althea Racing Ducati 1098R 23 14.861 1′35.288 1′34.246 291,1 8 33 11
9 1 35 C. CRUTCHLOW GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda Team Yamaha YZF R1 23 15.202 1′35.168 1′33.615 296,7 9 7 41 10
10 14 96 J. SMRZ CZE Team PATA B&G Racing Ducati 1098R 23 18.071 1′35.498 1′34.280 292,7 6 6 20 14
11 17 111 R. XAUS ESP BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 23 25.179 1′36.083 1′34.756 296,7 4 5 19 15
12 5 11 T. CORSER AUS BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000 RR 23 26.116 1′35.284 1′34.059 297,5 13 4 46 9
13 8 57 L. LANZI ITA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 23 30.189 1′35.817 1′34.261 291,9 8 3 26 13
14 15 99 L. SCASSA ITA Supersonic Racing Team Ducati 1098R 23 30.387 1′36.282 1′34.730 287,2 2 2 4 18
15 18 66 T. SYKES GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 23 35.741 1′36.077 1′34.894 291,9 5 1 13 16
16 19 88 A. PITT AUS Team Reitwagen BMW BMW S1000 RR 23 43.244 1′36.115 1′36.088 291,1 1 3 19
17 16 76 M. NEUKIRCHNER GER HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR1000RR 23 43.540 1′36.264 1′34.934 294,3 3 8 17
18 25 123 R. RESCH AUT Team Reitwagen BMW BMW S1000 RR 23 47.145 1′36.396 1′36.639 290,3
19 22 95 R. HAYDEN USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 23 48.502 1′36.748 1′36.117 288,0
20 21 15 M. BAIOCCO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX 10R 23 51.838 1′37.004 1′36.104 288,8
————————————————–Not Classified————————————————–
RET 10 84 M. FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098R 15 8 Laps 1′35.416 1′34.021 295,1 46 8
RET 13 2 L. CAMIER GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 12 11 Laps 1′34.668 1′34.273 296,7 32 12
RET 23 17 S. ANDREWS GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10R 3 20 Laps 1′37.854 1′36.329 287,2
RET 24 31 V. IANNUZZO ITA S.C.I. Honda Garvie Image Honda CBR1000RR 3 20 Laps 1′37.211 1′36.524 288,0

Makoto Tamada

Makoto Tamada is returning to the World Superbike series this weekend aboard the Reitwagen BMW at Portimao as a replacement rider for the injured Roland Resch.

The Japanese rider had signed to ride for the Pro Ride Honda squad this season but due to problems with funding the team have yet to begin, giving Tamada a chance to show what he can do for the rival team.

Resch suffered a broken collarbone at the opening round of the championship at Phillip Island, leaving the team with the solo rider Andrew Pitt until former WSB and MotoGP rider confirmed his place.

Tamada began a testing session on the Reitwagen BMW yesterday at the Jerez circuit which continues today before beginning his one-off racing weekend for the team on the 28th March.

Leon Haslam - Race One Winner at Phillip Island, Australia 2010

Last weekend saw the first round of the World Superbike Championship of 2010 take place at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia.

Leon Haslam claimed his first ever win in race one at the opening round after crossing the line in a photo finish alongside Italian rider Michel Fabrizio.  Noriyuki Haga followed the pair to take third place followed by Jonathan Rea, Max Biaggi and Sylvain Guintoli in sixth.

Leon Camier, the 2009 British Superbike Champion, finished his debut World Superbike race in eleventh place in his first race after qualifying down in sixteenth place following a fall in the Superpole session.  The British rider fought his way through to seventh place during the race until a mistake as he tussled for fourth place on lap 15 saw him take to the  escape road to avoid a collision.

Leon Camier - Phillip Island, Australia 2010

In an exciting second race of the opening round, Carlos Checa denied Leon Haslam his second win of the day, taking the victory on the final lap.  Checa got off to a poor start but had moved into fifth place by lap eight before picking off the race leaders with only Haslam ahead of him until the last lap of the race.  The Spaniard forced his Althea Racing machine up the inside of the British rider before the last left-hander and holding the lead to cross the line.

Haslam finished in second place followed by Fabrizio in third and Guintoli fourth.  Chris Vermeulen crashed out during the race and was seen following his bike hard into the tyre wall at the entry to Lukey Heights and was taken to the track-side medical centre where he was diagnosed with a badly bruised right leg and a damaged finger.

Carlos Checa - Race Two Winner - Phillip Island, Australia 2010

Here are the results;

Race One

1. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1198 34mins 16.428secs 22 laps
2. Leon Haslam GBR Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +0.307s
3. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1198 +0.434s
4. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +0.837s
5. Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox 1198 +3.453s
6. Jonathan Rea GBR Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +11.530s
7. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR +12.068s
8. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +13.782s
9. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda YZF R1 +14.401s
10. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda YZF R1 +14.707s
11. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +14.743s
12. Shane Byrne GBR Althea Ducati 1198 +14.851s
13. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA DFX Ducati 1198 +15.143s
14. Joshua Brookes AUS Echo-CRS Honda CBR1000RR +30.947s
15. Andrew Pitt AUS Reitwagen BMW S1000RR +41.866s

16. Max Neukirchner GER Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +48.844s
17. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA SCI Honda CBR1000RR +1min 06.888s
18. Roger Lee Hayden USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +1min 07.761s

Not Classified

19. Matteo Baiocco ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 17 laps completed
20. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R 13 laps completed
21. Chris Vermeulen AUS Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R 7 laps completed
22. Jakub Smrz CZE PATA B&G Racing Ducati 1198 6 laps completed

Did Not Start

Ruben Xaus ESP BMW Motorrad S1000RR
Roland Resch AUT Reitwagen BMW S1000RR

Andrew Pitt - Supersport Champion 2008

Andrew Pitt has signed a two-year deal to ride alongside Roland Resch for the Reitwagen Motorsport BMW team for the 2010 World Superbike Championship.

The double World Supersport champion and former MotoGP rider has been out of the World Superbike series for four-years but is keen to get back in the championship.

Pitt said;

“After four years I’m very happy to be back in World Superbike and excited about riding for such a dedicated and passionate team.  The team also includes plenty of very experienced operators and BMW are obviously serious about the World Superbike program, so I think this is going to be a great thing.

I’m looking forward to the challenge of a new bike.  I’ve been working hard on my fitness and I’m more motivated than ever to have a successful two-years.”