WSBK – Haga retains the advantage at Magny-Cours – First Superbike race

Posted on by admin

Haga retains the advantage at Magny-Cours

WSBK - Haga retains the advantage at Magny-Cours - First Superbike race

The Haga – Spies duel took place yesterday for the French WSBK event at Magny-Cours, but it will be necessary to wait for the final to decide between them … In Supersport, Crutchlow takes advantage of a fall by Laverty to take to the open sea. Strongly Portimao !

First Superbike race

Biaggi got off to an excellent start but Spies took control of the race on the first lap ahead of the Roman Emperor, who was stung his 2nd place by Jonathan Rea on the second pass of Adelaide.

The three leading men are followed by Haga while the rest of the field struggles to stay in touch. This 2nd group is led by Haslam, followed by Fabrizio, Corser, Kagayama, Nieto and Carlos Checa – David is in 19th position.

Sykes loses the front and we R1 literally takes off. Poor Yamaha does a lot of flips and somersaults on the track, but miraculously avoids the other riders! The pilot gets up unscathed in the middle of the track and reaches the edge without incident … The race continues, phew.

In front, Ben thought he could escape but Johnny Rea attacks and takes Biaggi and Haga with him. "We (Ben and his R1, Editor’s note) made a few mistakes that cost us a few tenths here and there and allowed others to come back", will grant the plote Yam ‘.

Behind, Haslam and Fabrizio are fighting for 5th place, far ahead of Corser and Kagayama. Michel manages to pass Leon on the 5th lap thanks to superb braking on the corner. Will Fabrizio be able to get the top quartet who already have three seconds ahead of him?.

In the next lap, Max Biaggi loses ground on Rea who does not leave the rear wheel of Spies. "I did my best but in the warm-up, Ben could turn within 1 ’38 when it was difficult for us", confessed the Roman Emperor.

Noriyuki Haga him, patient in 4th position. Suddenly, in the 7th lap, Rea is lost under braking: his rear wheel sweeps the track outwards, forcing the Irishman to widen and even to go off the track! Biaggi therefore inherits 2nd place and Haga climbs on the provisional podium.

Spies thus benefited from a good second ahead of his two pursuers and 4 seconds over Fabrizio, who was alone in 4th place. The second Yamaha on the track is that of David Checa who has just entered the Top 15, so in the points !

Leading the way, the official Spies R1 still leads the way ahead of Biaggi’s RSV4 and Haga’s 1098F09. On the 13th passage through Adelaide, Nitro Nori tries to surprise Max on the brakes but cannot validate his attack.

Two laps later, the Japanese tried his luck again but the Italian was still ahead! However, Haga’s work is not without effect: forced to give 100%, Max stays one second behind Ben Spies !

It’s finally in the chicane Nurburgring that Haga overtakes Biaggi: "I made a mistake when Nori arrived: I engaged a bad gear and he passed me in front", will relate the ex-star of the GP. To the aspiration of the Ducati in the break Golf, Max tries to recover his due immediately under Adelaide’s braking but widens and definitely lets Haga slip away !

About fifteen seconds behind these furious, Troy Corser cannot reach Yukio Kagayama. Worse, the Australian is caught up by Byrne and Smrz … The action is everywhere on the Nivernaise track !

There are still 4 laps to go and Ben Spies still has a second ahead of the 2nd, Noriyuki Haga. Max Biaggi will be able to secure his 3rd place on the podium, Michel Fabrizio accusing more than 5 seconds behind his elder…

The end of the race is captivating: three laps from the checkered flag, Haga sets the race lap record and, turn after turn, nibbles hundredths then tenths of a second on his rival rand in the championship. !

Helmet stuck in their bubble, the two leading men engage in a frenzied final. Haga and Spies don’t spare their motorcycles which rear, slide and twist at all costs! The American gets carried away a little more than the Japanese: Haga returns to contact !

In the last lap, at the level of the long left 180 °, Spies widens and Haga jumps at the opportunity to take the reins of the race … But on the go-around, the young Texan takes advantage of a better position on the trajectory to hoist his R1 in front of the Japanese 1098.

Big Ben will no longer make mistakes until the checkered flag and wins his 13th victory of the season … and of his career in the World Superbike! "With an extra round I think I would have won", will estimate Nitro Nori, who gives up the lead of the championship for two small points !

Five seconds after the two best enemies in the championship, Max Biaggi in turn crosses the finish line and gives Aprilia his 7th podium. Fabrizio finished 4th, far ahead of Carlos Checa, and the "fantastic four" authors of a real blockbuster: Kagayama, Byrne, Corser and Smrz.

"My chief mechanic told me that my time on the whole race would have been enough to win the race last year", illustrates Troy Corser who struggles with his team to control the Bavarian thoroughbred!"This weekend the bike spent its time sliding and rearing".

At Kawasaki, the situation is much worse: victim of false dead points, Broc Parkes had to withdraw from this first heat while he was fighting in 15th position: "it’s a shame because we could aim for 11th place"Says the Australian, who will be joined next year by his compatriot Chris Vermeulen !

On the GMT 94 side, we are pleased with the 15th place obtained by David: "finally, we score a point! David Checa managed for the first time this season to drive faster, significantly faster than our R1 2008. A relief for him and for the whole team." !

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *