Haga
does the Monza double
(World SBK Release)
Monza: Haga Becomes First Double Winner of 2007
HAGA UNTOUCHABLE IN FRONT OF HIS TEAM'S HOME CROWD Noriyuki Haga
(Yamaha Motor Italia) brought a perfect homecoming present to Italy for
his Monza-based team after scoring the Superpole win, a new lap record
and - most importantly of all - the first ever double win this year.
His astonishing pace was challenged for a period in each race, but
eventually his class and seemingly perfect set-up told in the end and
he notched up the wins by the margin of 8.4 and 2.6 seconds
respectively. His new lap record is 1'46.064, set on lap six of race
two. He is now second in the overall championship rankings, with 194
points.
Championship leader James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) extended
his championship lead to 35 points, despite scoring only a fourth after
a bad tyre choice in race one, and a hard-won second spot in race two.
RACE ONE The first 18-lap event was a classic of its kind, with hard
passes and mistakes on the high-speed track causing many anxious
moments. Haga, on pole, dropped to sixth on the grid, then shot forward
to share the lead with Toseland, until the Englishman (on a too-soft
'B' compound tyre) was forced back to finish fourth. Troy Bayliss, well
down at one stage capitalized on the desperate bad luck of one-time
leader and virtual podium certainty Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate
Honda) who was forced to retire in sight of the flag, and the Aussie
rider rode through to take second. Third went to Max Biaggi (Alstare
Suzuki Corona Extra) despite an off track excursion for the Roman
rider, after setting a - temporary - new lap record of 1'46.172.
RACE TWO The second race was an even closer battle for the last two
podium slots, a virtual widescreen epic on the last couple of laps, as
a slowing Toseland was engulfed by Bayliss and Biaggi but still managed
to ride to second place. Bayliss was third and Rolfo fourth, with a
huge rear end wobble from Biaggi at the Ascari chicane robbing him of a
potential second place, especially after what looked like a contact
with Bayliss as each jostled for position on the final run to the
Parabolica. Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) was sixth in race two,
fifth in race one.
CHAMPIONSHIP GETS TIGHTER FOR CHASING PACK In the current championship
chase behind Toseland's total of 229, Haga has 194, Biaggi 191 and then
some distance behind - but looking more ominous all the time - Bayliss
has 164. Corser is now being cut adrift somewhat on 135 points, with
Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) sixth on 107 points. He scored a seventh
place in race one but did not score in race two.
XAUS SEVENTH OVERALL AFTER DISAPPOINTING MONZA Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda
Ducati) could not re-ignite his podium fire after qualifying on row
four at Monza, and only took a 12th and 13th. He is still seventh
overall, but the following Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany) is eighth,
on 81 points. Rolfo's 13 points from race two boost him in ninth, while
the last place in the top ten is now enjoyed by Yukio Kagayama (Alstare
Suzuki Corona Extra) who was sixth and fifth today, after riding just
behind the leading group each time out today.
KAWASAKI RIDERS BATTLE HARD TO LITTLE AVAIL Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Corse
Kawasaki) may have run on at the first chicane in race two but he made
up for it until he ran out of rear traction in the second race. He had
to retire from race one but in the final leg he was up as high as
second for a time, before slipping and spinning his way back to
eighth.. He is now 11th, behind Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda), who
had a Monza high of eighth in race one. A desperate day of bad luck
once more for Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) saw him a double
non-finisher. Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda) took two ninth
places at Monza; with his team-mate Josh Brookes 11th in the opener
before experiencing brake troubles in the second race. Steve Martin (DFX
Corse Honda) was only 16th in race one and a non-finisher in race two,
after gear lever problems affected his second race.
POS NO. RIDER BIKE TIME
1 41 Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 32'05.318 (194,974 kph)
2 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 2.691
3 21 Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 999 F07 2.841
4 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 3.188
5 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 3.551
6 11 Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 13.034
7 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 17.246
8 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 18.410
9 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 29.017
10 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 999 F05 29.686
WORLD SUPERSPORT - SOFUOGLU SUPREME Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate
Honda) had to fight to get to the lead of the 16-lap Supersport race,
but once he was there the result was not in question, and he took his
fifth win in six attempts - giving him an overall championship lead of
58 points.
A stunning personal battle between Fabien Foret (GIL Kawasaki) and
Anthony West (Yamaha World SSP Racing) saw the French rider score
second place after an elbowing match from the exit of the Parabolica
corner. Gianluca Nannelli (Caracchi Ducati SC) was a fine fourth and
was only overhauled in the last two laps by Foret and West.
In the championship, Sofuoglu is way ahead, with Foret second on 87
points, Fujiwara third on 53 points and Nannelli fourth on 43.
Sebastien Charpentier (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was a non-finisher
after crashing at Ascari.
SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP - BAIOCCO THE VICTOR AT HOME Drama and huge
crashes played their part in the Superstock 1000 race, when first
leader Claudio Corti (Team Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha) crashing right in
front of the following Didier van Keymeulen (TTSL-MGM Racing Yamaha)
and then a multi-rider crash on the main straight looked serious, until
all the riders involved were reported to be not seriously hurt. Matteo
Baiocco, on an Umbria Bike Yamaha, finally took the race. Mark
Aitchison (Celani Suzuki) was second, with Ilario Dioniso's Cruciani
Suzuki third. In the championship chase, Baiocco now leads, on 60
points from Aitchison on 58 and Niccolo Canepa (Ducati Xerox) on 57,
with the latter tenth in the race at Monza.
