2007 Corona Extra World SuperBike Championship Round Nine, Brno, Czech Rep, 22nd July Race Report
TOSELAND AND BIAGGI SCORE A RACE WIN EACH AT BRNO
James Toseland ( Hannspree Ten Kate Honda ) and his new championship number one rival Max Biaggi ( Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra ) shared a win apiece at Brno, in two races with very different staerts and finishes. The completely dry first race was followed by a rain delayed start to race two, although by the time action had commenced the track was largley dry, and soon dry enough for Troy Corser ( Yamaha Motor Italia ) to leave with a superb new lap record of 2'00.674, set on lap four.
Race One. James Toseland looked to have gone too early at one stage of proceedings, but the determinded championship leader recorded his first win since Assen by holding off his eventual lone challenger, Max Biaggi. In third Yukio Kagayama Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra ) survived a couple of scary moments to earn a podium, just ahead of a fading charge from pole man Nori Haga ( Yamaha Motor Italia ). It was another hard race in SBK , and one with a result few would have predicted, especially as Troy Bayliss ( Ducati Xerox ) crashed ot after hitting the fallen machine of Karl Muggeridge ( Alto Evolution Honda ).
Race Two. The second race had got underway with many strange names in the top positions to start but it soon settled into a chase of the rapid starting and highly aggressive Nori Haga. He would soon finally dropback once more to record his second fourth place of the day. and allow Max Biaggi through to the lead he was never quite to surrender to the tenacious Toseland, who took a close second. Third place went to Michel Fabrizio ( DFX Corse Honda ) who overcame a slow start to charge through to third, passing Haga with five laps to go. It was his first podium finish of 2007, and a remarkable achievement for a rider who looked set to be happy with two top ten finishes in this particulary challenging year for privateers. Toseland now leads the championship with 305 points, Biaggi 262, Haga 260, Bayliss 249, Corser 191, Lanzi 150, Xaus 140, Rolfo 131, Neurkircher 111, Kagayama 105.
WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP. Kenan Sofuoglu ( Hannspree Ten Kate Honda ) added the race win to the pole he took on saturday to put him in an almost unassailable championship position with only four races left to run. His win has put him 70 points ahead of second place rider in the title chase, Fabwin Foret ( Gil Kawasaki ) who ttok a surprise third after qualifying on row three and having a bad start. He, and eventual second place rider Graig Jones ( Reve Ekerold Honda ), earned their podiums when Brock Parkes ( Yamaha World SuperSport Team ) crashed into the rear of Robbin Harms ( Stiggy Motorsports Honda ), causing each rider to crash. Parkes recovered to finish thirteenth in the race, but dropped to eighth in the championship overall. Jone's podium was his first in WSS racing, and the first for the team, which is making its debut in WSS racing this year.
ROUND 10 OF THE CORONA EXTRA WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP GOES TO BRANDS HATCH IN THE UK FRON 3RD-5TH AUGUST.
