Reverend
March 1st, 2009, 20:50 PM
Japan's Noriyuki Haga and American rookie Ben Spies both recorded victories in the season-opening World Superbikes event at Phillip Island.
Ducati rider Haga got the better of Germany's Max Neukirchner on the final lap of race one to record his 34th win, while Spies triumphed on race two ahead of Haga.
"I am very happy for the win," said Haga, after race one. "I have just switched to Ducati and I already had four crashes with the bike. But out team did a great job.
Declared wet, but held on a completely dry track, race one saw all riders opting for slicks despite the rain beginning in the final laps.
"In the last two laps it started to rain a bit," Haga said. "Then on the last lap Max passed me, but I put big pressure on him thinking where to pass him. He made a mistake and I won."
Neukirchner's Suzuki Alstare team-mate Yukio Kagayama finrished third, while Michel Fabrizio took fourth on the second Ducati Xerox machine.
Spies, who started from pole, finished outside the points in 16th in race one after ending up on the gravel on turn two.
But the second race was more successful for the Texan rookie when he went head-to-head with Haga before pulling away in the final laps to take the flag.
"The first race was not picture perfect for us," said Spies. "The second one was really tough, we had a couple of goes in the lead and tried to break but couldn't do it so I sat and watched Nori.
"We were strong in the first half but really slow in the back two corners and I couldn't stay with him, then when the tyres went off we just went to the front with four to go and I put my head down.
"It was really great out there today."
Race 1:
1. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati
2. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki
3. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki
4. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati
5. Rea J. (GBR) Honda
6. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda
7. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati
8. Corser T. (AUS) BMW
Race 2:
1. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha
2. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati
3. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda
4. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati
5. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati
6. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki
7. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati
8. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki
Championship standings:
1. Noriyuki Hagi 45 pts
2. Max Neukirchner 30
3. Leon Haslam 26
4. Ben Spies 25
5. Michel Fabrizio 24
6. Yukio Kagayama 24
7. Regis Laconi 22
8. Jonathan Rea 18
Full report: Eurosport (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/01032009/58/wins-haga-spies-phillip-island.html)
Ducati rider Haga got the better of Germany's Max Neukirchner on the final lap of race one to record his 34th win, while Spies triumphed on race two ahead of Haga.
"I am very happy for the win," said Haga, after race one. "I have just switched to Ducati and I already had four crashes with the bike. But out team did a great job.
Declared wet, but held on a completely dry track, race one saw all riders opting for slicks despite the rain beginning in the final laps.
"In the last two laps it started to rain a bit," Haga said. "Then on the last lap Max passed me, but I put big pressure on him thinking where to pass him. He made a mistake and I won."
Neukirchner's Suzuki Alstare team-mate Yukio Kagayama finrished third, while Michel Fabrizio took fourth on the second Ducati Xerox machine.
Spies, who started from pole, finished outside the points in 16th in race one after ending up on the gravel on turn two.
But the second race was more successful for the Texan rookie when he went head-to-head with Haga before pulling away in the final laps to take the flag.
"The first race was not picture perfect for us," said Spies. "The second one was really tough, we had a couple of goes in the lead and tried to break but couldn't do it so I sat and watched Nori.
"We were strong in the first half but really slow in the back two corners and I couldn't stay with him, then when the tyres went off we just went to the front with four to go and I put my head down.
"It was really great out there today."
Race 1:
1. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati
2. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki
3. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki
4. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati
5. Rea J. (GBR) Honda
6. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda
7. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati
8. Corser T. (AUS) BMW
Race 2:
1. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha
2. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati
3. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda
4. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati
5. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati
6. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki
7. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati
8. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki
Championship standings:
1. Noriyuki Hagi 45 pts
2. Max Neukirchner 30
3. Leon Haslam 26
4. Ben Spies 25
5. Michel Fabrizio 24
6. Yukio Kagayama 24
7. Regis Laconi 22
8. Jonathan Rea 18
Full report: Eurosport (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/01032009/58/wins-haga-spies-phillip-island.html)