Haga delighted at taking championship lead
Added on Monday, September 28th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Haga delighted at taking championship lead
Noriyuki Haga went back to the top of the World Superbike Championship standings this weekend in what promises to a thrilling championship battle with Ben Spies.
Haga sits three points ahead of Spies in the rider’s standings after overcoming an eighteen point deficit going into the round at Imola with a victory and a victory and second place finish on Ducati’s home circuit.
That result, coupled with Spies’ failure to make the podium in either race as he finished fourth and fifth, means that the Japanese rider now holds the advantage in the championship with just two rounds remaining.
“It’s great to have won again, having not been in this position since Kyalami and having had some tough rounds after the Donington accident,” said Haga. “It was a very long race, I thought it would never end, and with all that happened, I don’t even remember when I overtook Max!
“Over this weekend we have gradually improved and I am especially happy with the result because my father has travelled to Europe for the first time to see me race.
“For Race 2 I unfortunately had to go out on the second bike as we had problems with the first and we couldn’t get it fixed in time. It was a hard race and I am very tired at the end of it all.
“Congratulations to Michel in Race 2 of course and also to Marco (Simoncelli) and thanks to my engineer Ernesto, to my team and to Ducati.
“We are now back in the lead with a three point advantage but there are still four races to go so there’s still a fight ahead. We need the best possible bike for Magny-Cours and Portimao!”
