2010 Hannspree World SuperBike Championship Round 1, Phillip Island, Australia, Feb 28th Race Report
HASLAM AND CHECA TAKE A WIN EACH DOWN UNDER
Alstare Suzuki's Leon Haslam and Althea Racing Ducati's Carlos Checa both took a race win each at the opening round o the 2010 Hannspree World Superbike round at Phillip Island in Australia. Infront of 65,000 fans, the action was intense in each 22-lap race, with the three leading riders each within 0.734 seconds of each other in race one and the leading four within 0.837 seconds in race two.
"Pirelli's opening race weekend saw spectacular racing with new faces on all account's, starting from a Superpole led by Haslam, Fabrizio and Crutchlow on three different machines. Race one finished seven seconds quicker than last year, a race so close between Suzuki and Ducati that it demanded a photo finish to decide the race winner. New to Superbikes, Sylvain Quintoli led race two for manty laps and set Pirelli best lap on his first race on the Suzuki. Race time dropped by four seconds over 2009, and Checa impressively took his new bike and team Althea Racing to the podium. The Supersport race, five seconds faster as well, Laverty lead a very precise race from start to finish on his Parkalgar Honda. It's fantastic to see such diverse results from all the manufacturers, especially at the start of the season. "Giorgio Barbie, Racing Director at Pirelli.
Race one. It took a close look at the photo finish images to split Leon Haslam and race long rival Michel Fabrizio, but by only 0.004 seconds the Alstare Suzuki rider was given the win. It was the closest ever race in the WSBK class, as Leon Haslam took his first career win in the World Superbike Championship. Xerox Ducati's Michel Fabrizio was originally awarded the victory but before the slow down lap, Haslam was comfirmed as the winner. Fabrizio's team-mate Nori Haga tookhis machine to third as the battle for fourth eventually went to Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Johnny Rea ahead of Aprilia Max Biaggi, Alstare Suzuki's Sylvain Guintoli with Althea Racing Ducati's Carlos Checa in seventh. Pata B&G Racing Ducati's Jakub Smrz pipped BMW Motrrad's Troy Corser for eighth with DFX Corse Ducati's Lorenzo Lanzi tenth.
Race two. Althea Racing Ducati's Carlos Checa won a thrilling race two, as he passed race leader Leon Haslam on the final stages on the last lap to take victory by 0.301 seconds. Third went to Xerox Ducati's Michel Fabrizio with new SBK rider Sylvain Quintolitaking fourth for the Astare Suzuki squad. Nori Haga was fifth, Johnny Rea heading upan exciting mid-field battle took sixth, with a strong ride by BMW's Troy Corser in seventh and Aprilia Max Biaggi in eighth. Both Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland managed to put in a strong performance for the Sterilgarda Yamaha team by finishing ninth and tenth as both riders crashed out in race one, scoring no points.
SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.
Parkalgar Honda rider Eugene Laverty made little work of the opening race of the season, as the Irish rider won by over five seconds ahead of pole sitter Provec Motocard.com Kawasaki's Joan Lascorz, with Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Kenan Sofuoglu in third. Tthe first attempt of the 21-lap race was stopped after Chaz Davis BE1Racing Triumph dumped oil onto the track, where the race was eventually restarted where Laverty was able to take an early lead and take victory in front of the Australia fans.
