Phillip Island Race 1 - Haslam Wins in Photo Finish Hot

The World Superbike qualifying races at Phillip Island, Australia, put riders within hundredths of a second of one another. The first championship race, won by Leon Haslam, was achieved by a mere four thousandths of a second.

Michel Fabrizio had some late speed to catch up with Haslam toward the end, and after the final line was crossed, many believed that Fabrizio had won the first WBSK championship race. After the photo finish ending was reviewed, Haslam was crowned the winner.
Haslam has waited a long time for this win. It was his 62nd attempt that finally got him the victory and it occurred just a day after he achieved his first pole position win. It is also Suzuki’s first win in two years.

Noriyuki Haga, who was fearful he wouldn’t be able to compete in today's race after a bad collision during the warm-ups, rebuilt his bike and took third place from a tenth position start.

But not everyone had a smooth ride like the top three. By lap seven, three riders had fallen by the wayside. Yamaha, the defending WSBK champions, had both its riders, James Toseland and Cal Crutchlow, crash out of the race. Chris Vermeulen also had an accident after climbing up to seventh place.

Phillip Island Super bike - 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