Haga searching for first Losail win
Added on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Haga searching for first Losail win
Noriyuki Haga is looking to continue his winning start to the 2009 World Superbikes Championship by going in search of his first win at the Losail circuit in Qatar.
The Japanese rider got off to a dream start on his debut with the Xerox Ducati with a win in the season’s opening race at Phillip Island and a second place finish in race two, handing him an early lead in the championship.
Haga was installed as the early season favourite with the bookmakers, having secured a ride with the current constructor’s champions and holding a significant experience advantage over Yamaha’s WSB rookie Ben Spies – also tipped for big things in 2009.
But the 34-year-old, still looking for his first world championship in twelve attempts, heads to Losail knowing that he has yet to win in the Qatari desert, having finished 13th and 14th last year, with a third in 2006 being his best result at the venue to date.
“Well I can say that I’m very happy with how things went at the first races at Phillip Island and I’ll be trying my best to have an equally successful weekend at Qatar,” said Haga. “I am very pleased with the performance of the 1198 and my team have been fantastic so we’ll be working hard to repeat our Phillip Island success.
“Each of the fourteen rounds will be a big challenge for me, and I will face each one in the same way, with the aim being always to win!”
Michel Fabrizio is also out to make amends in Qatar after a disappointing weekend in Australia but like his Ducati teammate, Losail is also a circuit with more good memories than bad.
“To be honest I hoped to do better at Phillip Island but what I didn’t do there I’ll be trying to do at Qatar of course. I’ve had ups and downs at Losail and the last time I was on the podium was in 2005 so it’s about time I stepped up there again!
“I’m in shape, I’m feeling comfortable on the 1198 and I’m ready to race. As long as we don’t get the rain that the GP guys just experienced over there, then we’ll be fine.”
