Reverend
May 10th, 2009, 19:13 PM
Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) and Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) shared the wins in an exciting fifth round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. 118,000 spectators witnessed Fabrizio's maiden Superbike win in race 1 and Spies making amends in race 2 for his first race disappointment, when his Yamaha ran out of fuel at the final corner. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) crashed out in race 2 after being hit by a bird but still leads the table with a 54 point advantage over Spies.
Race 1
The first Superbike race of the day saw a thrilling end to one of the best races ever seen at Monza. The race had to have two starts, after two crashes at the first chicane of lap 1 involving Tamada, Hill, Corser, Neukirchner and Roberts led to it being interrupted. The German came off the worst with a broken right femur and dislocated right foot, while Roberts picked up various bruises.
The outcome of the race was decided at the final curve. Spies was well on his way towards a fifth win of the season when in the Parabolica his Yamaha ran out of fuel just a few metres from the line. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) capitalized on Spies' misfortune to take his first win in Superbike. Team-mate Noriyuki Haga finished second to maintain his points lead. The third place battle also saw a thrilling end as Max Biaggi took his Aprilia over the line, but the Italian was penalized 20 seconds for cutting the chicane, leaving Ryuichi Kiyonari (Ten Kate Honda) to take the final podium position after a spectacular mid-race recovery from a poor start.
Race 2
Ben Spies immediately made amends in race 2 by dominating from start to finish. The Texan left everyone standing after just a few laps and went on to win his fifth race of the season. This win, together with the crash at the Parabolica on lap 3 of points leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), keeps the championship battle wide open. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) now becomes a credible title candidate after crowning his Italian weekend with an excellent second place. Fabrizio managed to hold off Ryuichi Kiyonari in the final stages, the Japanese rider repeating his race 1 result.
Race One result:
1. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati
2. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Ducati
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Jpn) Honda
4. Yukio Kagayama (Jpn) Suzuki
5. Jonathan Rea (GB) Honda
6. Tom Sykes (GB) Yamaha
7. Ruben Xaus (Spa) BMW
8. Regis Laconi (Fra) Ducati
Race Two result:
1. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha
2. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Jpn) Honda
4. Jonathan Rea (GB) Honda
5. Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia
6. Tom Sykes (GB) Yamaha
7. Leon Haslam (GB) Honda
8. Jakub Smrz (Cze) Ducati
Championship standings:
1. Noriyuki Haga 200 pts
2. Ben Spies 146
3. Michel Fabrizio 125
4. Leon Haslam 103
5. Tom Sykes 90
6. Max Biaggi 81
7. Regis Laconi 77
8. Jonathan Rea 77
WORLDSBK.COM (http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/531-wins-for-fabrizio-ducati-and-spies-yamaha-at-monza.html)
Race 1
The first Superbike race of the day saw a thrilling end to one of the best races ever seen at Monza. The race had to have two starts, after two crashes at the first chicane of lap 1 involving Tamada, Hill, Corser, Neukirchner and Roberts led to it being interrupted. The German came off the worst with a broken right femur and dislocated right foot, while Roberts picked up various bruises.
The outcome of the race was decided at the final curve. Spies was well on his way towards a fifth win of the season when in the Parabolica his Yamaha ran out of fuel just a few metres from the line. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) capitalized on Spies' misfortune to take his first win in Superbike. Team-mate Noriyuki Haga finished second to maintain his points lead. The third place battle also saw a thrilling end as Max Biaggi took his Aprilia over the line, but the Italian was penalized 20 seconds for cutting the chicane, leaving Ryuichi Kiyonari (Ten Kate Honda) to take the final podium position after a spectacular mid-race recovery from a poor start.
Race 2
Ben Spies immediately made amends in race 2 by dominating from start to finish. The Texan left everyone standing after just a few laps and went on to win his fifth race of the season. This win, together with the crash at the Parabolica on lap 3 of points leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), keeps the championship battle wide open. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) now becomes a credible title candidate after crowning his Italian weekend with an excellent second place. Fabrizio managed to hold off Ryuichi Kiyonari in the final stages, the Japanese rider repeating his race 1 result.
Race One result:
1. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati
2. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Ducati
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Jpn) Honda
4. Yukio Kagayama (Jpn) Suzuki
5. Jonathan Rea (GB) Honda
6. Tom Sykes (GB) Yamaha
7. Ruben Xaus (Spa) BMW
8. Regis Laconi (Fra) Ducati
Race Two result:
1. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha
2. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Jpn) Honda
4. Jonathan Rea (GB) Honda
5. Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia
6. Tom Sykes (GB) Yamaha
7. Leon Haslam (GB) Honda
8. Jakub Smrz (Cze) Ducati
Championship standings:
1. Noriyuki Haga 200 pts
2. Ben Spies 146
3. Michel Fabrizio 125
4. Leon Haslam 103
5. Tom Sykes 90
6. Max Biaggi 81
7. Regis Laconi 77
8. Jonathan Rea 77
WORLDSBK.COM (http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/531-wins-for-fabrizio-ducati-and-spies-yamaha-at-monza.html)