2010 Hannspree World SuperBike Championship Round 12, Imola, Italy, 24th-25th Sept Race Report

  CHECA  DOES THE DOUBLE WHILE BIAGGI WRAPS UP THE TITLE

Infront of a 69,000 strong crowd at Imola in Italy Alitalia Aprilia rider Max Biaggi was crowned 2010 FIM World Superbike champion on home soil to the delight of the Italian fans after Alstare Suzuki's Leon Haslam bike engine blew up at the md way point of the twenty one lap race which secured Biaggi the title if he finished the race or not.

Race One. Althea Ducati rider Carlos Checa powered his way to the front to record his first win of the day at Imola. Checa was pushed all the way in the second part of the race by Alstare Suzuki's Leon Haslam who knew that nothing of a win would be good enough in him taking the title chase to Biaggi at the final round in France next weekend. It was do or die for Haslam on the last lap as he and Checa entered the second to last level , but Haslam's breaking caused him to run wide into the gravel leaving Checa to cross the finish line in first ahead of DFX Ducati's Lorenzo Lanzi and Ducati Xerox's Nori Haga. PATA B&G Racing Aprilia's Jakub Smrz recorded a strong finish in fourth ahead of a dejected Haslam and Kawasaki's Tom Sykes while Ducati Xerox rider Michel Fabrizio just beat Althea Ducati's Shane Byrne for seventh. Alstare Suzuki's Sylvain Guintloi would eventually finish in ninth with Sterilgarda Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow in tenth.

Race Two. After signing a new two year deal to stay with Althea Ducati Carlos Checa went onto to take his second win of the day ahead of Ducati Xerox Nori Haga with Sterilgarda Yamaha's Cal Crutchlow in third. Pole man Tom Sykes recorded his best result of the season on an aging Kawasaki in fourth while Alitalia Aprilia's Max Biaggi was not to upset by crossing the finish line in fifth knowing he he was the new world champion after Alstare Suzuki's Leon Haslam bike blew up at the mid way point of the race while trailing Biaggi. Althea Ducati's Shane Byrne who is riding for a job next year put in a stunning performance to take sixth ahead of DFX Ducati's Lorenzo Lanzi and Akstare Suzuki's Sylvain Guintoli with BMW Motorrad rider Ruben Xaus and Supersonic Ducati's Luca Scassa rounding out the top ten.

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider Michele Pirro could not believe his luck as he entered the final corner on the last lap while lying in third only to see his team-mate Kenan Sofuoglu and Parkalger Honda's Eugene Laverty both lying in the gravel just yards before the finish line after a coming together moments before. Pirro crossed took the chequred flag in total amazement while some how both riders got the bikes running to cross the finish line the race in second and third. It was not such a good day for British riders BE1 Truimph Racing's Chaz Davies and Intermoto Czech Honda's Gino Rea as both of them failed to finish the race.