Reverend
May 18th, 2009, 21:40 PM
Noriyuki Haga claimed victory in both World Superbikes races at Kyalami to extend his Championship lead.
The Japanese veteran fended off Ducati team-mate Michel Fabrizio and Yamaha polesitter Ben Spies to the line in race one.
Haga got the jump at the start but Fabrizio led mid-race before he returned to the front and made the most of the ensuing battle between the Italian and Spies by building the cushion he needed to secure victory.
Spies and Fabrizio scrapped over second until the American made a mistake and allowed the Ducati back through, while Jonathan Rea kept his nerve to deny a determined Max Biaggi on the run to the flag to round out the top five.
And in race two Haga fended off Fabrizio on the final lap to ensure that he leaves South Africa as he arrived - the only Kyalami winner in the current field.
Haga got the holeshot for the second time but had to give way to polesitter Spies in the early stages.
Whether the American could have denied the points leader his double - and joined countrymen Colin Edwards and Ben Bostrom as a winner in South Africa - was never allowed to unfold for the Yamaha coughed and died on lap three, allowing Haga back ahead and into a comfortable lead.
Rea held off Biaggi for much of the race - as he had in race one - and then survived a late assault from fellow Briton Leon Haslam to claim the final podium spot.
Race One:
1. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Ducati
2. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati
3. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha
4. Jonathan Rea (GB) Honda
5. Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia
6. Carlos Checa (Spa) Honda
7. Shinya Nakano (Jpn) Aprilia
8. Yukio Kagayama (Jpn) Suzuki
Race Two:
1. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Ducati
2. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati
3. Jonathan Rea (GB) Honda
4. Leon Haslam (GB) Honda
5. Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia
6. Carlos Checa (Spa) Honda
7. Shinya Nakano (Jpn) Aprilia
8. Yukio Kagayama (Jpn) Suzuki
Championship standings:
1. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Ducati 250 pts
2. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati 165
3. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 162
4. Leon Haslam (GB) Honda 116
5. Jonathan Rea (GB) Honda 106
6. Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia 103
7. Tom Sykes (GB) Yamaha 103
8. Regis Laconi (Fra) Ducati 77
Eurosport (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18052009/58/haga-double-kyalami.html)
The Japanese veteran fended off Ducati team-mate Michel Fabrizio and Yamaha polesitter Ben Spies to the line in race one.
Haga got the jump at the start but Fabrizio led mid-race before he returned to the front and made the most of the ensuing battle between the Italian and Spies by building the cushion he needed to secure victory.
Spies and Fabrizio scrapped over second until the American made a mistake and allowed the Ducati back through, while Jonathan Rea kept his nerve to deny a determined Max Biaggi on the run to the flag to round out the top five.
And in race two Haga fended off Fabrizio on the final lap to ensure that he leaves South Africa as he arrived - the only Kyalami winner in the current field.
Haga got the holeshot for the second time but had to give way to polesitter Spies in the early stages.
Whether the American could have denied the points leader his double - and joined countrymen Colin Edwards and Ben Bostrom as a winner in South Africa - was never allowed to unfold for the Yamaha coughed and died on lap three, allowing Haga back ahead and into a comfortable lead.
Rea held off Biaggi for much of the race - as he had in race one - and then survived a late assault from fellow Briton Leon Haslam to claim the final podium spot.
Race One:
1. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Ducati
2. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati
3. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha
4. Jonathan Rea (GB) Honda
5. Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia
6. Carlos Checa (Spa) Honda
7. Shinya Nakano (Jpn) Aprilia
8. Yukio Kagayama (Jpn) Suzuki
Race Two:
1. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Ducati
2. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati
3. Jonathan Rea (GB) Honda
4. Leon Haslam (GB) Honda
5. Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia
6. Carlos Checa (Spa) Honda
7. Shinya Nakano (Jpn) Aprilia
8. Yukio Kagayama (Jpn) Suzuki
Championship standings:
1. Noriyuki Haga (Jpn) Ducati 250 pts
2. Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Ducati 165
3. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 162
4. Leon Haslam (GB) Honda 116
5. Jonathan Rea (GB) Honda 106
6. Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia 103
7. Tom Sykes (GB) Yamaha 103
8. Regis Laconi (Fra) Ducati 77
Eurosport (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18052009/58/haga-double-kyalami.html)