2009 Hannspree World SuperBike Championship Round 3, Valencia, Spain, April 5th Race Report
NORI HAGA DOES THE DOUBLE AS BEN SPIES FALLS IN VALENCIA
Round three of the Hannspree World Superbike Championship started it's European tour at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in the Spanish city of Valencia. Blessed with ideal weather conditions for racing the event attracted a total of 65,000 spectators who were there to cheer on the likes of their Spanish heroes Carlos Checa and Ruben Xaus, but all the attention was drawn to the season battle of Ducati Xerox's Nori Haga and Yamaha World Superbike's rookie Ben Spies who ultimately took his third consectutive pole position, yet having never been to the circuit before.
Race One. It was the Alstare Suzuki of Germany's Max Neukirchner who took the lead into the first turn ahead of Xerox Ducati's Nori Haga and Yamaha World Superbike's Ben Spies, but only after three laps Nori Haga amde his move to take the lead from Max Neukirchner where the Japanese star started to pull out a healthy lead over the rest of the field. The battle for second became a three way dice between Max Neukirchner, Ben Spies and Haga's team-mate Michel Fabrizio, but on lap seven pole sitter Ben Spies lost his front end and crashed out. With Nori Haga along way off in the distance Michel Fabrizio managed to pass Max Neukirchner and then try to catch his team-mate Nori Haga, but the overall gap was to much for Fabrizio and Haga crossed the line some four seconds ahead of Fabrizio which made it a one and two for the jublient cheering Ducati Xerox Team as Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner took the final spot on the podium in third. The battle for fourth went to DFX Corse Ducati's Regis Laconi who just managed to hold off Stiggy Racing Honda's Leon Haslam. Alstare Suzuki's Yukio Kagayama took sixth ahead of Yamaha World Superbike's Tom Sykes. Eighth was Aprilia's Max Biaggi who just managed to get the better of Sterilgarda Ducati's Shane Byrne with Kawasaki's Broc Parkes taking his season's best in tenth.
Race Two. After dominating the opening race Ducati Xerox's Nori Haga completed his double win of the day with Yamaha World Superbike's Ben Spies taking a well deserved second after crashing out of race one. Not to miss out on the Ducati Xerox celebrations Michel Fabrizio brought it home in third ahead of DFX Corse Ducati's Regis Laconi and Stiggy Racing Honda's Leon Haslam. Home Hero Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa took sixth after crashing in race one ahead of Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner and Aprilia's Max Biaggi. Ryuichi Kiyonari took ninth with Yamaha World Superbike's Tom Sykes finish tenth ahead of his fellow countryman Sterilgarda Ducati's Shane Byrne.
WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP.
Yamaha World Supersport's rider Cal Crutchlow took his maiden win in only his third race in the 600cc class. The young Brit had to fight hard for the win with a last lap pass over Stiggy Racing Honda's Anthony West who had led for most of the race. The final place on the podium went to 2007 World Supersport champion Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Kenan Sofuoglu.
