Haga looking for momentum in Assen
Added on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Haga looking for momentum in Assen
Noriyuki Haga is hoping that he can build up some momentum in the World Superbike championship following his victory at Valencia two weeks ago as he and Ducati head to Assen this weekend.
After an untypically slow start to the season for both him and Ducati, Haga recorded his first win in race two at Valencia last week, propelling him to fourth in the championship standings, one point behind satellite Ducati rider Carlos Checa.
It was only Haga’s second podium finish of the season but last year’s runner up is heading to the Netherlands confident that his title challenge is back on track following the win.
And the Japanese rider also has the benefit of ending something of a hoodoo at Assen last season, ending a run of nine rounds without a win in Assen when he beat Leon Haslam to the chequered flag in race two last season.
“I was very happy to win at Valencia, my first win of the season and I will do my best to back it up with two great races at Assen,” he claimed. “Last year went well for us here, actually better than ever before at this track, and at this point I am very aware that I need two similar results this season in order to close the gap. Every weekend is a battle with so many strong riders but I’m confident we can do a good job.”
