Spies (Yamaha) does Qatar double at Losail

Spies (Yamaha) does Qatar double at Losail

Update: March 14, 2009, 16.50 PM ET (http://www.worldsbk.com/)

Yamaha's WSBK rookie rider Ben Spies took a spectacular double win in the second round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship at the Losail circuit in Qatar. The 24 year-old Texan powered to his third win in the opening four races, dominating both today's 18-lappers and twice finishing ahead of Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) and Max Biaggi (Aprilia), who were classified second and third to make up identical podiums.

Race 1

Poleman Spies made his attack six laps from the end, and immediately pulled out a gap that allowed him to administer his lead until the flag. There was a great scrap for the runner-up slot between Haga and Biaggi, with the Japanese rider getting the nod. For Aprilia it was their first podium since returning to WSBK, and the Italian manufacturer's competitiveness was confirmed by fourth place for Shinya Nakano. Fifth went to Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate), the first Honda rider to the flag, who managed to hold off the attacks of the determined British duo of Shane Byrne (Sterilgarda Ducati) and Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike). Troy Corser scored an encouraging ninth place for BMW, while Kawasaki notched up their first points in this year's championship with a 14th place for Broc Parkes. Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Alstare) and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) had disappointing races, both riders crashing out.

Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike): "It was an extremely tough race, I had an OK start and when I got to the back of Nori and Max, we were all very strong on separate parts of the track. I was lacking a little bit off the last corner and it was very hard to make the pass, but once past, I put my head down and was able to keep it clean for the win despite a couple of mistakes."

Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox): "It was quite hard at the end, I got a good start and after a few laps I was able to pass Max on the straight. A few laps more and he passed me again and it was difficult for me to catch up. I pushed on the last lap and did it and was very happy with the result."

Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing): "I tried to keep up and have a good rhythm without losing concentration. We have a new bike and every session we try to improve, but it's not easy to win right away. These guys did a great job, I rode very hard and today I was comfy, both front and rear, and looking good."

Results: 1. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 36'06.304 (160,93 kph); 2. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1.893; 3. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 2.168; 4. Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 12.061; 5. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 12.597; 6. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 12.971; 7. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 13.570; 8. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 19.306; 9. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 19.388; 10. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 20.981; 11. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 21.164; 12. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 21.994; 13. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 22.917; 14. Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 27.218; 15. Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 31.602

Race 2

Spies also went on to take the win in race 2, confirming himself and his Yamaha to be the strongest combination in this early part of the season. This time the Texan had a different strategy, taking control in the early laps of the race and then gradually pulling away. Behind there was another terrific scrap for the runner-up slot between Haga and Biaggi, and once again second place went to the Japanese rider, who holds on to his points lead in the table. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Ten Kate Honda Racing) scored an excellent fourth place, but was unable to get in amongst the podium battle. Fifth place went to Sykes, while Neukirchner just got the edge over Nakano in a photo-finish. BMW made a major leap forward with Corser running fifth in the early stages, both the Australian and Xaus scoring top 10 points finishes. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) had a day to forget with a second DNF finish in two races.

Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike): "Nori set a really good pace the first few laps. We were lacking just a little in acceleration and it was hard to race with him, but I put my head down and closed up, kept the same rhythm and passed him. It was a better race for me than the first one because I could concentrate on my lines, but it's going to be hard making up points on him if he keeps finishing second. It was a perfect weekend, they're not always going to be like that but we'll take them when we can."

Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox): "I am really tired but happy for the result in race 2. When Ben passed me, I tried to stay with him but he is very fast. In one second he was going to 100 metres so I could not catch him! We made a good job, and I am leading the championship. Today, for me, Ben is ten years younger than me so that's why I lose!"

Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing): "It was a great race, we confirmed our potential and the feeling we have on this track, which has always been good to me. I think the bike works well, we still have to improve but we are very pleased with the result. For sure we know these guys are a little bit quicker, they run hard and deserve what they did, but I am confident to improve during the season and get some good points."

Results: 1. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 36'02.126 (161,241 kph); 2. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1.274; 3. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1.622; 4. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1.845; 5. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 5.117; 6. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 9.512; 7. Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 9.514; 8. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 12.621; 9. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 13.842; 10. Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 13.884; 11. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 13.888; 12. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 14.913; 13. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 15.762; 14. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 15.920; 15. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 19.565

Points (after 2 of 14 rounds): 1. Haga 85; 2. Spies 75; 3. Neukirchner 40; 4. Biaggi 38; 5. Haslam 36; 6. Sykes 32; 7. Laconi 30; 8. Rea 30; 9. Nakano 27; 10. Kagayama 25. Manufacturers: 1. Ducati 85; 2. Yamaha 81; 3. Honda 51; 4. Aprilia 41; 5. Suzuki 40; 6. BMW 27; 7. Kawasaki 2.

FIM Supersport World Championship

The second round in Qatar saw the crowning of a new talent in World Supersport. Thanks to a perfect slipstreaming dash to the line, Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) scored his first win in the category. The Irish rider held off the attacks from reigning champion Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) to take the win. Former points leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) only finished fourth after making a mistake at the final curve, which opened the door for Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha World Supersport) to gain his first WSS podium. Seven Hondas placed in the first ten positions, including the Veidec Racing and Hannspree Althea machines of Robbin Harms and Matthieu Lagrive in fifth and sixth. Garry McCoy took the ParkinGO Triumph 675 to an encouraging seventh place, while Joan Lascorz could only manage thirteenth with the Kawasaki. Massimo Roccoli (Intermoto Czech Honda), Phillip Island podium finisher Anthony West (Stiggy Racing) and Barry Veneman (Hoegee Suzuki) made up the top 10.

Results: 1. Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 37'06.285 (156,595 kph); 2. Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 0.063; 3. Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 0.625; 4. Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 0.711; 5. Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 5.200; 6. Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 5.233; 7. McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 9.538; 8. Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 9.551

Points (after 2 of 14 rounds): 1. Pitt 40; 2. Sofuoglu 38; 3. Laverty 36; 4. Crutchlow 29; 5. West 23; 6. Lagrive 15; 7. Roccoli 15; 8. Harms 12. Manufacturers: 1. Honda 50; 2. Yamaha 29; 3. Triumph 15; 4. Kawasaki 11; 5. Suzuki 9.

2009 World Superbike standings

Eurosport - Sat, 14 Mar 14:17:00 2009 (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com)

The latest standings from the 2009 World Superbike Championship.

1 Noriyuki Hagi 85

2 Ben Spies 75

3 Max Neukirchner 40

4 Max Biaggi 38

5 Leon Haslam 36

6 Tom Sykes 32

7 Regis Laconi 30

8 Jonathan Rea 30

9 Shinya Nakano 27

10 Yukio Kagayama 25

World Supersport Championship

1 Kenan Sofuoglu 25

2 Andrew Pitt 20

3 Anthony West 16

4 Cal Crutchlow 13

5 Eugene Laverty 11

6 Mark Aitchison 10

7 Fabien Foret 9

8 Joan Lascorz 8

9 Massimo Roccoli 7

10 Gianluca Nannelli 6

Eurosport

Get to know the grid: WSBK- NORIYUKI HAGA 41

Today and in the next few weeks I will post every day about 2 riders, one from MotoGP and one from WSBK.

About each rider I will go over his raiding career, successes and failures, facts and rumors, to help you all to get to know the grid better.

I will go by teams

And the first team is Ducati

WSBK

NORIYUKI HAGA #41 Team: Ducati Xerox Team, Bike: Ducati 1098R

Pic: Tim Keeton/Raymonds Press Agency. 3/5/04.
British Superbikes. Round 4, Oulton Park, Cheshire.
British Superbikes Race 1. Vince Whittle's Ducati RS explodes in a fireball as Noriyuki Haga tries to take evasive action.

Stats from WorlsSBK.com

TITLES	FAST L.	3RD PL.	2ND PL.	WINS	PODIUM	RACES	POLE	YEARS
0	46	25	30	34	89	0	0
Position	FAST L.	3RD PL.	2ND PL.	WINS	PODIUM	RACES	POLE	YEARS
1	1	0	1	1	2	2	0	2009 SBK

3	4	0	4	7	11	28	1	2008 SBK
2	12	3	6	6	15	25	2	2007 SBK
3	3	5	5	1	11	24	1	2006 SBK
3	6	5	3	2	10	23	0	2005 SBK
3	7	1	2	6	9	22	0	2004 SBK
4	4	4	3	0	7	26	1	2002 SBK
2	3	3	4	4	11	24	0	2000 SBK
7	0	1	0	1	2	0	0	1999 SBK
6	4	2	0	5	7	0	1	1998 SBK
13	1	1	1	1	3	0	0	1997 SBK
22	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	1996 SBK

Opinion: He is a strong rider, now raiding retired world champion Troy Byless old Bick, he is a strong contender for the 2009 wsbk champion title.

Bio

From: his official web site: http://www.nki41.com/home.html

Born: 02/03/1975 Nagoya

Team 2009: Ducati Xerox Racing Team

Bike 2009: Ducati 1198

Career:

2000 - 2007 - 2008: 2' World SBK

2004 - 2005 - 2006: 3' World SBK

2002: 4' World SBK - 1999: 7' World SBK

Poles: 5

Races: 230

Podium: 87

Wins: 33

Fast Lap:45

Favourite circuits: Laguna Seca, Suzuka, Brands Hatch, Assen

Hobbies: Aquatic sports, golf, hangin' out with family and friends

He likes: Happy people and ...

He hates: People don't ask "sorry" when mistake ...

Noriyuki Haga also known as Nitro-Nori...

He won the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race in 1996 with American Colin Edwards as his teammate.

He was the Japanese Superbike Champion in 1997, coupled with four top-five finishes in World Superbike (WSBK) while filling in for the injured Edwards.

In 1998 N-N was racing WSBK full-time, adopting the number 41 he has used ever since.

He won five races (including 3 of the first 4) and finished sixth in the championship, despite lacking knowledge of most circuits on the calendar. He also scored an unexpected third place podium in a 500cc wild-card ride at his home race at Suzuka. Haga finished seventh in the WSBK standings in 1999 on the new R7 Yamaha.

As Akira Yanagawa came 5th, he was not the highest placed Japanese rider, something which has never happened since.

Nori improved his performance to challenge for the title in 2000.

Many race fans feel he would have won the 2000 championship had he not been disqualified for testing positive for a banned substance. It was later learned that the banned substance was ephedrine, which occurs naturally in herbs used in the Ma Huang supplement Haga had been taking during the off-season to lose weight. As a result, Haga was stripped of his race win points at the opening round in Kyalami, South Africa, and was forced to sit out a 2-race weekend as punishment.

Noriyuki raced in MotoGP on a WCM Red Bull-sponsored Yamaha 500cc motorcycle in 2001, and on MS Racing's MotoGP Aprilia in 2003. He finished a disappointing fourteenth in the championships both years. 2002 was a winless season in WSBK, but in 2004 he returned to the series with Renegade on a Ducati and was in contention for the championship until the final round. For 2005 Haga has led Yamaha's factory team, finishing third in the championship and becoming the first rider to win a dry weather race having failed to lap fast enough to qualify for 'Superpole'.

In 2006 he is again Yamaha's leading man. After 7 rounds he lies 2nd in the championship to Troy Bayliss, despite not having won a race. At round 7 in Brno he took pole, but finished third and fourth in the two races, having been passed by Michel Fabrizio on the last lap of both. At round 8 in the UK, he won a race for the first time of the year. At Round 9 at Lausitzring in Germany Nori picked up two second places after battling for the win in both races, the first race was won by his good friend Yukio Kagayama of Alstare Corona Suzuki and the second race was won by Brit James Toseland of Winston Ten Kate Honda who had been his main rival for 2nd place in the year's championship. For the third season in a row, Haga came third.

Troy Corser joined the Yamaha team for 2007, and together they brought Yamaha the manufacturer's championship. Haga finished 2nd in the riders championship, only 2 points behind James Toseland.

In 2008 Noriyuki continued on with the Yamaha Motor Italia team for the fourth consecutive year, and a strong set of results that included a double win at Nurburgring and Vallelunga meant that he closed the year in third position behind second-placed man and team-mate Troy Corser, and Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox), crowned World Champion in 2008 for the third time. Noriyuki replaces the now retired Troy Bayliss in the Ducati Xerox Team in 2009 and is hungry for a championship title, having finished second or third in the standings for the last five years.