Donington WSB: Spies takes race one win

Ben Spies took a lights to flag victory during race one at the ninth round of the World Superbike Championship at Donington Park in the UK.

The Yamaha riding American was never headed and his nearest rival was Max Biaggi aboard the Aprilia who got close but was never able to put a move on him.

Biaggi had a problem on the final lap just as he exited the Esses, his engine cut out but he managed to get it going again and came over the line in second place.

The final step of the podium when to the Championship leader Noriyuki Haga on the Xerox Ducati. He had a lonely race to third place with no one any where near him on track.

On the British front it was Leon Haslam on the Stiggy Honda who finished in fourth place just ahead of Shane Byrne on the Sterilgarda Ducati.

Jonathan Rea was seventh aboard his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda. Leon Camier scythed his way from 21st on the opening lap to 13th while his Airwaves Yamaha team-mate James Ellison got as high as 11th before crashing out at McLeans.

Tom Sykes, team-mate to Spies, also crashed out of seventh place when he hit a bump at Goddards and lost the front. Straight after the race he went to the medical centre to have some treatment on his back.

Race winner Spies said: “Max rode great, I had to ride hard the whole race and we put in some super-fast laps to get into the 30s. I hope he was sliding around as much as I was.

“I didn’t want to make any mistakes and I stepped it up at the end to hold him off. I’ve got to put another race together we need to see what the weather is going to do.”

Biaggi said: “Congratulations to Ben. He was pushing hard and I was doing my best but he was riding hard to the end.

“On the last few laps I was catching then I caught a kerb and went wide. I had a problem too as my engine stopped. We lapped fast from start to end so it was good for spectators but a tough race.”

Haga said: “I’m happy for a podium and the first part of the race I try to push but it was difficult to catch them. I use a little too much rear tyre so I couldn’t push and the bike was difficult to turn. We will change the suspension for race two.”

Race one result

1. B. SPIES USA Yamaha
2. M.BIAGGI ITA Aprilia +7.156
3. N.HAGA JPN Ducati +10.968
4. L. HASLAM GBR Honda +18.843
5. S. BYRNE GBR Ducati +19.125
6. S. NAKANO JPN Aprilia +21.286
7. J. REA GBR Honda +23.644
8. J. HOPKINS USA Honda +32.849
9. J. SMRZ CZE Ducati +32.904
10. R. KIYONARI JPN Honda +33.192
11. C. CHECA ESP Honda +34.535
12. M.FABRIZIO ITA Ducati +35.093
13. L. CAMIER GBR Yamaha +35.441
14. L. LANZI ITA Ducati +39.034
15. R. XAUS ESP BMW +41.067
16. M.LAGRIVE FRA Honda +46.452
17. Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Suzuki +47.924
18. B. PARKES AUS Kawasaki +48.246
19. L. SCASSA ITA Kawasaki +50.932
20. S. ANDREWS GBR Kawasaki +55.032
21. J. HACKING USA Kawasaki +55.216
22. A. POLITA ITA Suzuki +1’02.758
23. D.SALOM ESP Kawasaki +1’02.977
24. D. CHECA ESP Yamaha +1’12.255
25. B. YOUNG USA Suzuki +1’12.531

Not Classified

RET T. CORSER AUS BMW 2 Laps
RET J. ELLISON GBR Yamaha 10 Laps
RET R. RESCH AUT Suzuki 10 Laps
RET T. SYKES GBR Yamaha 10 Laps
RET G.LAVILLA ESP Ducati 16 Laps
RET V. IANNUZZO ITA Honda 0