Crutchlow and Biaggi share spoils
Added on Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Crutchlow and Biaggi share spoils
Cal Cructhlow and Max Biaggi proved successful at Magny Cours this afternoon, sharing the spoils in what was a frantic double header.
As the first race got underway, Cructhclow swapped his pole position for second place, when he was unable to fight off a charging Biaggi for the lead. As the opening lasp saw everyone settle into positions, Biaggi soon found himself under immense pressure, as Crutchlow latched onto the rear of his Aprilian Alitalia machine.
Further back, James Toseland enjoyed a good start, launching up from a fifteenth place start on the grid to hold ninth place by just the third lap. However, it was short lived for the Brit, when his Yamaha Sterilgarda machine took a tumble shortly afterwards, ending his race immediately.
Whilst the top two fought it out for the lead, Sylvain Guintoli was enjoying a strong outing in third, holding off a feisty Michel Fabrizio. Carlos Checa had slotted into fifth, with Leon Haslam recovering from a difficult qualifying session down in sixth.
As the race progressed, Haslam soon picked up the pace, lapping at a pace quicker than the five riders in front of him. Despite already missing out on the championship title, his race was still very much alive, as he soon started to fight his way through the pack.
By lap eight, Crutchlow grasped an opportunity for the lead, as he soared passed Biaggi, leaving the newly crowned 2010 WSB Champion to follow him.
With twenty-three laps completed, Crutchlow swept passed the chequered flag for honours, with a surprised Haslam following him across the line in second. Checa managed to find his way up to third, to complete the podium.
Biaggi was muscled back to fourth, whilst Jakub Smrz made light work of his rivals to score a fifth place finish. Fabrizio lost out, dropping to sixth, with teammate Noriyuki Haga just behind in seventh. The Brits had a strong showing in the remainder of the top ten, with Tom Sykes and Shane Byrne scoring eighth and ninth place finishes, whilst Luca Scassa rounded out the top ten.
Despite a good race in front of a home crowd, Guintoli was excluded from the race one result, after failing to take a ride through penalty for cutting a corner during the race.
As the lights went out for the second race, Biaggi and his fast starting Aprilia Alitalia immediately slotted into the lead, however he soon lost out to Guintoli. With the support of his home crowd on his shoulders, and determined to make up for the first race, Guintoli held onto the lead for much of the opening stages of the twenty-three laps, until a charging Biaggi took the position away from him.
Once again demonstrating the pace of his Yamaha, Cruthclow harassed Biaggi for the second half of this second outing, eager to make it a double bout of honours. However, despite a number of almost opportunities, he was forced to settle for second.
After a fierce tussle for the final podium spot with Guintoli, Fabrizio stole third on the final lap, much to the displeasure of the fans, leaving Guintoli to accept fourth at the chequered flag. Haga scored a fifth place finish, whilst Smrz stormed to sixth, just ahead of Scassa in seventh.
Byrne stormed to another top ten finish in eighth place, with Checa and Haslam struggling to ninth and tenth, respectively. Toseland completed his difficult weekend when he slipped from his Yamaha at the final chicane, which forced Haslam wide in avoidance.
With the curtain now closed on the 2010 WSB season, attentions will soon be focused on testing for the 2011 season. Biaggi will no doubt be eager to defend his title crown, while everyone else gets ready for either switching teams or welcoming new teammates.
