Haga hoping for improvement at Assen
Added on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Haga hoping for improvement at Assen
World Superbikes championship leader Noriyuki Haga is looking to improve on his indifferent record at Assen this weekend as he continues his battle with Yamaha’s Ben Spies.
Following a double win at Valencia, the Ducati rider now sits 40 points ahead of Spies in the championship as he heads to the Netherlands this weekend looking to correct a patchy run of results on the famous Assen tarmac.
Renowned as a technically demanding circuit, Haga has failed to finish four of the last six races at venue although the Japanese rider has shown his credentials with two second place finishes in the last three years, the latest of which coming in last year’s second race with Yamaha.
On that day, Haga was beat to the flag by would-be champion Troy Corser – the man that he replaced at Ducati this season, leaving him without any concerns over the 1098′s credentials on a traditionally slower circuit.
“Assen – it’s a tricky circuit,” said Haga. “I preferred the old layout of the track, like most people, but don’t dislike the new version. My history there has been rocky, up and down to say the least!
“I’m looking forward to riding this track on the 1198, it should be interesting. We know that the Ducati performs there as Troy won both races last year, we had a good fight in Race 2 I recall, and so it should be another good weekend.
“Checa and Neukirchner went well there last year and they, as well as Spies and I, are likely to be running at the front, so we should see more great racing.”
