Reverend
April 15th, 2007, 17:57 PM
James Toseland took his first-ever win at Valencia and fourth victory of the season to tighten his grip on the World Superbike Championship lead.
The 26-year-old Briton could only manage fifth place on his Honda in the opener at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. But with the track drying out after rain over the weekend, he won race two from Max Biaggi and Nori Haga.
He now has 151 points in the overall standings, with Max Biaggi second on 138 and Haga third with 124.
Former champion Troy Corser lies fourth on 101 but title holder Troy Bayliss is back in fifth on 90 points after a first-race third.
Toseland had switched to his second bike for race two after a tyre problem first time out.
The HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider said: "The second race was awesome. It was a bit close, and I'm just so happy to finish in first place.
"I had a nightmare here last year and I was determined to win. I'd never won in Valencia, I'd never been close to winning."
Spaniard Ruben Xaus took race one after he came through from a poor start to take the lead at half distance on the Sterilgarda Ducati.
Corser had led in the early stages for Yamaha Motor Italia but Xaus took his time to work his way to the front before pulling away from both Haga and Bayliss.
Corser took fourth ahead of Toseland but it was not a good race for Biaggi as Lorenzo Lanzi and Michel Fabrizio finished sixth and seventh ahead of the Italian.
Haga led race two from the start and Toseland dealt with the early challenge of Xaus to set up a battle with the Japanese rider.
As Bayliss took a trip through the gravel it was left to Toseland and Haga to dispute the lead.
Biaggi had come through from 12th on the grid to lie third and demoted Xaus to fourth before closing in on the leading duo.
Haga made a mistake on the penultimate lap and let Toseland through but the lead changed hands twice more on the final circuit.
Biaggi took his chance on the final lap to pass Haga for second as Toseland held on to take victory.
Xaus was a distant fourth as Lanzi beat team-mate Bayliss to fifth.
Race one result:
1. Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati
2. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Yamaha
3. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati
4. Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha
5. James Toseland (GB) Honda
6. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ita) Ducati
7. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Honda
8. Max Biaggi (Ita) Suzuki
Race two result:
1. James Toseland (GB) Honda
2. Max Biaggi (Ita) Suzuki
3. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Yamaha
4. Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati
5. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ita) Ducati
6. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati
7. Josh Brookes (Aus) Honda
8. Regis Laconi (Fra) Kawasaki
Championship standings:
1. James Toseland (GB) Honda 151 pts
2. Max Biaggi (Ita) Suzuki 138
3. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Yamaha 124
4. Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha 101
5. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati 90
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6558085.stm)
The 26-year-old Briton could only manage fifth place on his Honda in the opener at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. But with the track drying out after rain over the weekend, he won race two from Max Biaggi and Nori Haga.
He now has 151 points in the overall standings, with Max Biaggi second on 138 and Haga third with 124.
Former champion Troy Corser lies fourth on 101 but title holder Troy Bayliss is back in fifth on 90 points after a first-race third.
Toseland had switched to his second bike for race two after a tyre problem first time out.
The HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider said: "The second race was awesome. It was a bit close, and I'm just so happy to finish in first place.
"I had a nightmare here last year and I was determined to win. I'd never won in Valencia, I'd never been close to winning."
Spaniard Ruben Xaus took race one after he came through from a poor start to take the lead at half distance on the Sterilgarda Ducati.
Corser had led in the early stages for Yamaha Motor Italia but Xaus took his time to work his way to the front before pulling away from both Haga and Bayliss.
Corser took fourth ahead of Toseland but it was not a good race for Biaggi as Lorenzo Lanzi and Michel Fabrizio finished sixth and seventh ahead of the Italian.
Haga led race two from the start and Toseland dealt with the early challenge of Xaus to set up a battle with the Japanese rider.
As Bayliss took a trip through the gravel it was left to Toseland and Haga to dispute the lead.
Biaggi had come through from 12th on the grid to lie third and demoted Xaus to fourth before closing in on the leading duo.
Haga made a mistake on the penultimate lap and let Toseland through but the lead changed hands twice more on the final circuit.
Biaggi took his chance on the final lap to pass Haga for second as Toseland held on to take victory.
Xaus was a distant fourth as Lanzi beat team-mate Bayliss to fifth.
Race one result:
1. Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati
2. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Yamaha
3. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati
4. Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha
5. James Toseland (GB) Honda
6. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ita) Ducati
7. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Honda
8. Max Biaggi (Ita) Suzuki
Race two result:
1. James Toseland (GB) Honda
2. Max Biaggi (Ita) Suzuki
3. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Yamaha
4. Ruben Xaus (Spa) Ducati
5. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ita) Ducati
6. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati
7. Josh Brookes (Aus) Honda
8. Regis Laconi (Fra) Kawasaki
Championship standings:
1. James Toseland (GB) Honda 151 pts
2. Max Biaggi (Ita) Suzuki 138
3. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Yamaha 124
4. Troy Corser (Aus) Yamaha 101
5. Troy Bayliss (Aus) Ducati 90
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/6558085.stm)