Haga cites demand for urgent improvement
Added on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Haga cites demand for urgent improvement
Noriyuki Haga has admitted that results have to improve quickly if he is to keep alive any ambitions of winning his first World Superbike title, admitting that the championship is becoming more competitive than ever.
The Ducati rider, who was pipped to the 2009 championship on the final day of the season by Ben Spies, has had endured a difficult start to the season with just two podiums from the opening eight races, leaving him 63 points adrift of championship leader.
Haga also sits 20 points behind satellite Ducati rider Carlos Checa after his problems were compounded in Assen at the weekend with a 10th place finish and a DNF over the weekend. His teammate Michel Fabrizio has also struggled, with just two top-ten finishes this season – both podium finishes in Australia.
And Haga knows that performances have to improve quickly if he is to end his 12 year run in WSB without a rider’s championship.
“It was a very difficult day for us,” he admitted after the weekend in Assen. “In race one I didn’t make the good start that I needed to, and from the fourth row I had to push very hard even to make up one or two positions.#
“In race two, I realised already during the warm-up lap that the engine vibrations I was feeling were maybe stronger than normal. I hoped it wouldn’t be a problem and started the race but it became worse as I rode and I knew there was something wrong technically.
“It’s very disappointing of course because this year, more than ever, it’s important to be consistent – there are so many of us fighting for the positions that count and its becoming more and more of a battle.”
