Haga wins Race 2: JT goes bang

In a dramatic turn of events, James Toseland’s WSB weekend has taken a big pounding after the Hanspree rider had to pull out of the race at the start of lap four of the second race at Donington with a mechanical failure.

JT was going for the double win after taking the 25 points in the first race, but had to pull off the circuit at Regate corner when the bike stopped.

“To say I’m disappointed is an understatement,” said Toseland. “I felt really confident about winning the second race, but unfortunately as I was shifting down the gears into RegateI felt a problem with the engine, which caused it to cease [stop].

“I don’t know what the problem was but it was definitely mechanical and meant that I was unable to continue.

“This is as disappointing for the fans as it is for me and I’m sorry that I was unable to give them a better result.”

In JT’s absence, the trio of Biaggi, Corser and Haga hit the front.

Biaggi got a much better start than in race one, and clocked a potential fastest lap on lap three with a time of 1.31.65 until Nori Haga went two hundreds of a second quicker on lap nine with a 1.31.63.

Biaggi and Haga swapped positions throughout the race with Biaggi struggling to turn in to the Melbourne Loop without over-cooking it, and Haga holding some astonishingly tight lines.

Haga had looked up the inside of Biaggi on a few occasions at Goddards but on the final lap looked as though he had settled for second, only for Biaggi to run in too fast, handing Haga the lead and the victory.

A livid Max Biaggi crossed the line in second and Troy Corser in third.

Toseland now leads the championship by just five points from Biaggi.

RESULTS

1. Haga
2. Biaggi
3. Corser
4. Xaus
5. Lanzi
6. Laconi
7. Rolfo
8. Smrz
9. Muggeridge
10. Neukirchner
11. Bussei
12. Fabrizio
13. Martin
14. Nakatomi
15. Brookes
16. Zanotti GBR

Toseland GBR DNF
Ellison GBR DNF