Haslam retains championship lead
2010-05-16 19:46
Michel Fabrizio (AFP)
Author: Peter Burroughes
Two very different races delivered two types of riveting spectacle for the enthusiastic fans at Kyalami, with race two the pick of the day’s action.
The opening race was taken by a rejuvenated Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) in front-running style.
Race two victor Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare), on the other hand, battled it out right to the end, with the top four riders all within a second of each other after 24 intense laps. The net result is an extended championship lead for Haslam, now on 222 points to Aprilia rider Max Biaggi’s 207.
Race One
Michel Fabrizio took an early lead in the first race of the day at Kyalami and the factory Ducati Xerox rider did not put a wheel wrong as he dominated throughout. Behind was Carlos Checa, on an Althea Ducati privateer machine, while third went to a patient Leon Haslam, who extended his championship lead over fourth place rider Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia).
Jonathan Rea, from Hannspree Ten Kate Honda, made an amazing charge towards the end of the race, taking fifth place for his efforts.
Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia) had the late pace to stick with Rea on the last couple of laps, but Yamaha Sterilgarda team-mates James Toseland and Cal Crutchlow were unable to drive as hard in the final reckoning and went seventh and eighth.
Jakub Smrz (Pata B&G Ducati) was a battling ninth, and right on the tail of the Yamaha duo on the very last lap. Peculiarly, Fabrizio’s winning time of 2010 was only 0.033 seconds faster than the first race time he set to go second in 2009.
Michel Fabrizio: "I am very happy for Ducati and so happy to win for myself as well. I needed it. We tried our best from the very start and I rode an intelligent race to control the gap to the rider behind."
Morias rode determinedly for his 13th place, hounding Corse all the way in race one.
South African superbike champion Sheridan Morais finished a hard-earned 13th behind multiple world champion Troy Corser (BMW) and ahead of the Australian's Spanish team-mate Ruben Xaus and Japanese superstar Noriyuke Haga (Ducati Xerox).
Carlos Checa: "We started with a very strong pace; 1’38 low was very fast. I was focused to be behind Fabrizio and we kept a good pace early on. Then the tyres dropped down and I thought maybe at that point I would have been able to manage the tyre better, but Fabrizio did very well. On some laps I could improve one tenth but then I would lose it. The bike is working well here."
Leon Haslam: "It was pretty tough out there, a long race doing 24 laps round here. It is really key to make the start but the biggest thing round here is that it is hard to pass, so you definitely have to get the start done. I was feeling pretty good in that race but I was having a little bit of chatter every time I pushed to try and get on the back of the front two."
Corser was unable to recapture his Monza form for BMW.
Race Two
Leon Haslam (Alstare Suzuki) wrapped up a magnificent race two win as five riders were covered by 1.479 seconds at the flag and any one of three were in with a real chance of winning even in the final lap.
Second was long-time leader Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Max Biaggi went third for the Aprilia Alitalia team. Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda) and Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) completed the top five, all on different manufacturers’ machinery.
James Toseland battled hard to record sixth place, with both he and Tory Corser overhauling a fading Fabrizio at the end. Jakub Smrz was ninth and 2009 double race winner Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) tenth. The top Kawasaki rider was Tom Sykes, 14th.
Leon Camier and Sheridan Morais failed to finish.
South African superbike champion Sheridan Morais crashed out of the race on lap 12 while lying 14th after seeing off earlier challenges from Noriyuke Haga (Xerox Ducati) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Kawasaki). Haga finished 10th and Sykes 14th.
In the championship Haslam now has 222 points, Biaggi 207 and Rea 141, tied with Checa.
Rider quotes
Leon Haslam: "Racing is all about winning and I felt I was in a position where I was strong in a few places and I had to go for it. And it worked out. It was a high risk last few laps with the front and rear moving about but we didn’t make too many mistakes and we won."
Jonathan Rea: "It seems we now have a base with the bike that works everywhere. I really enjoyed the race, it was good fun but I wanted to win so badly. Leon rode well and every time he passed me he would run deep and I was able to cut back inside. With two laps to go I thought maybe it would be mine if I just covered myself, but Leon made a lunge three corners from the end of the penultimate lap."
Max Biaggi: "A nice and close race. In race two I made a good start and that was maybe 50% of the final result. In race one I was held up and could not go through but in race two I went away with top two guys and could match their pace. At the end I tried but my attack did not come off."
World Superbike Championship - Kyalami - Race One
1. Michel Fabrizio Ducati 1098R
2. Carlos Checa Ducati 1098R 1.098
3. Leon Haslam Suzuki GSX-R1000 5.049
4. Max Biaggi Aprilia RSV4 Fac 6.974
5. Jonathan Rea Honda CBR1000RR 13.710
6. Leon Camier Aprilia RSV4 Fac 13.848
7. James Toseland Yamaha YZF R1 16.064
8. Cal Crutchlow Yamaha YZF R1 16.231
9. Jakub Smrz Ducati 1098R 16.580
10. Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki GSX-R1000 23.100
11. Luca Scassa Ducati 1098R 24.561
12. Troy Corser BMW S1000 RR 25.504
13. Sheridan Morais Aprilia RSV4 Fac 27.073
14. Ruben Xaus BMW S1000 RR 27.273
15. Shane Byrne Ducati 1098R 30.692
16. Tom Sykes Kawasaki ZX 10R 34.008
17. Noriyuki Haga Ducati 1098R 35.948
18. Chris Vermeulen Kawasaki ZX 10R 44.030
19. Max Neukirchner Honda CBR1000RR 48.382
DNF Roger Lee Hayden Kawasaki ZX 10R DNF
DNF Broc Parkes Honda CBR1000RR DNF
DNF Matteo Baiocco Kawasaki ZX 10R DNF
World Superbike Championship - Kyalami - Race Two
1. Leon Haslam Suzuki GSX-R1000
2. Jonathan Rea Honda CBR1000RR 0.522
3. Max Biaggi Aprilia RSV4 Fac 0.601
4. Cal Crutchlow Yamaha YZF R1 0.991
5. Carlos Checa Ducati 1098R 1.479
6. James Toseland Yamaha YZF R1 13.324
7. Troy Corser BMW S1000 RR 13.740
8. Michel Fabrizio Ducati 1098R 14.250
9. Jakub Smrz Ducati 1098R 15.190
10. Noriyuki Haga Ducati 1098R 16.790
11. Ruben Xaus BMW S1000 RR 21.101
12. Luca Scassa Ducati 1098R 22.670
13. Shane Byrne Ducati 1098R 24.506
14. Tom Sykes Kawasaki ZX 10R 31.301
15. Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki GSX-R1000 31.836
16. Chris Vermeulen Kawasaki ZX 10R 33.710
17. Max Neukirchner Honda CBR1000RR 35.203
18. Broc Parkes Honda CBR1000RR 55.929
19. Roger Lee Hayden Kawasaki ZX 10R 56.074
20. Matteo Baiocco Kawasaki ZX 10R 1:08.481
DNF Leon Camier Aprilia RSV4 Fac DNF
DNF Sheridan Morais Aprilia RSV4 Fac DNF
