Ducati News Today

Team Xerox Ducati kicked off their 2010 World Superbike Championship title chase at the 2nd fastest circuit of the series, Phillip Island in Australia. Both Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga stood on the podium but it was first time pole sitter Leon Haslam who took his maiden victory on the Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Haga had a poor start to the race qualifying only in 10th on the third row and then being skittled at 140mph by Ruben Xaus in the morning warm-up. Haga seemed to shrug off the trip across the gravel trap but no crash at that speed is without consequence and it would impact his result in the race.

Haga made his customary lightening start moving to 3rd from his 3rd row grid position, slotting in behind team-mate Fabrizio and pole sitter Leon Haslam. A lap later he moved up to second but after a few laps Michel re-took 2nd place and the trio stayed in formation for the remainder of the race. They pulled steadily away from the chasing pack which ended up featuring Ten Kate’s Jonathan Rea, Max Biaggi on the beautiful Aprilia resplendent in new Alitalia livery and stylish French newcomer, Sylvain Guintoli on another Alstare Suzuki.

On the last lap Haga faded a little but Fabrizio tried to strike over the line, charging up to the Suzuki as they flashed across the start finish line for the last time. Initially there was confusion as to who won, but in the end Haslam was awarded his first World Superbike victory by just 4 thousandths of a second.

In the post race interview, Haga was pleased to have started his title chase so well, given that his right arm was swollen from the earlier crash and he had taken a pain injection but was suffering from arm pump during the closing parts of the race.

Leon Haslam 1st:- “It’s not sunk in just yet, especially as it was such a close finish and not knowing if I had won for a while. That definitely added to the anticipation. I can’t thank my team enough they have been solid since day one and to repay them with this is great. I’m a little speechless now. I changed my style towards the end and I rode as smoothly as possible. It worked, but it was close at the end.”

Michel Fabrizio 2nd:- “I thought I had won the race. When I saw the big screen after the finish I saw my family and the crew chief celebrating, so I thought I had it.”

Noriyuki Haga 3rd:- “I did not have any big injury after my crash in morning warm-up but some swelling in my right arm. My personal trainer made a good massage before the race and I took some painkilling injections. The race was tough and I had arm pump, so that made me make some mistakes under braking. But it was fun to race with them at the front.”

link: World SBK.com

Australian World Superbike Results from Race 1
1 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 34’13.435 (171,442 kph)
2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 0.004
3 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 0.769
4 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 10.201
5 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 10.782
6 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 11.079
7 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 11.208
8 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 16.522
9 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 20.291
10 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 26.352
11 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 29.775
12 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 30.155
13 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 31.951
14 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 31.957
15 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 55.082
16 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’10.932
17 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’11.237
18 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’17.357
19 25 Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1
RET 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1

For Ducati it was a great start to the 2010 season with both factory rider son the podium and 5 of the top 10 places going to Ducati 1198Rs. Stay tuned for Race 2 of the Australian round of the 2010 World Superbike Championship.

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