Valencia World Superbikes: Noriyuki Haga takes race two in Spain

Yamaha’s Noriyuki Haga has taken his first win of the 2008 season in the second World Superbike race in Valencia this afternoon.

The Japanese rider claimed the lead after initial leader Carlos Checa seemed to suffer a mechanical problem on lap 11.

Troy Bayliss claimed his second runner-up spot of the day just ahead of Spaniard Checa who took some consolation with third after crashing out on the final corner in race one.

Pole man Max Neukirchner was not able to race after sustaining a broken left collarbone in his first race crash on the final corner with Carlos Checa so Yukio Kagayama was in the pole spot at the start.

It was anyone’s race going in to the first few corners before Troy Bayliss while Spaniard Ruben Xaus was out to overcome his race one demons and slotted in in second.

Noriyuki Haga passed Xaus for the Yamaha man to move in to second on lap two. And then Haga had Bayliss in his sights as he went to try and claim first.

The fight was on for third on lap four with Carlos Checa, Ruben Xaus, Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama all fighting for the place.

On lap five Kagayama took Xaus to claim fourth while leader Troy Bayliss had managed to get a bit of space between himself and Noriyuki Haga and created a 0.1sec gap.

Going in to lap seven Noriyuki Haga made his attempt stick to take Bayliss for first, while on the following corner Hannspree Ten Kate Honda man Carlos Checa did not repeat his race one mistake to take the lead.

On lap eight the first victim of the race was former MotoGP rider Makoto Tamada who crashed out.

Ruben Xaus shot past Yamaha’s Troy Corser on lap 10 to take fifth but up front Carlos Checa and Noriyuki Haga were out of sight.

But on lap 11 the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider seemed to have a technical problem which was him drop back down to third to leave Bayliss in second.

Max Biaggi had a go at passing Spaniard Ruben Xaus on lap 21, but the pass didn’t stick as the Sterilgarda Ducati rider reclaimed his place. Ryuichi Kiyonari also managed to pass Troy Corser.

But it was Noriyuki Haga who was the man of race two as he held off double World Superbike champion to take the victory.

Carlos Checa’s problems did not hinder him too much in the latter stages as the Spaniard held on to take the final podium spot.

After the race Noriyuki Haga said: “I’m very happy. In the first race the bike was feeling good but I had a front-end crash so I couldn’t use my bike in the second race.

“I had to use the second bike so I was worried because I haven’t used the bike much.”

Valencia World Superbike race two results:

1 Noriyuki HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1
2 Troy BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08
3 Carlos CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate HondaHonda CBR1000RR
4 Ryuichi KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate HondaHonda CBR1000RR
5 Troy CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1
6 Yukio KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000
7 Ruben XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08
8 Max BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08
9 Regis LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R
10 Fonsi NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000
11 Gregorio LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR
12 Lorenzo LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 23 18.826
13 Michel FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08
14 Jakub SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo’sDucati 1098 RS 08
15 Kenan SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate HondaH Jor.nda CBR1000RR
16 Shinichi NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1
17 Roberto ROLFO ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR1000RR
18 David CHECA ESP Yamaha France Ipone GMTY 9a4maha YZF-R1
19 Russel HOLLAND AUS D.F. Racing – Bertocchi Honda CBR1000RR
20 Karl MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR
21 Ayrton BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R
22 Diego LOZANO ORTIZ ESP Honda Joe Darcey Honda CBR1000RR
23 Loic MORELLI ITA Alto Evolution Honda SuperbHiokenda CBR1000RR
24 Shuhei AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda SuperbHiokenda CBR1000RR
25 Carmelo MORALES ESP L’Oreal Men Expert LaglisseYamaha YZF-R1