The first race at Valencia saw much of the competition fall to the pavement. But Leon Haslam, Suzuki Alstare, rode a flawless race to give him the race one victory by almost two seconds. Haslam has one other race win this World Superbike season, and has never finished lower than second place.
Carlos Checa made the racing for Haslam a little easier when he lost control on lap 8 and drove his bike off of the circuit. Leon Cammier also crashed out of contention at lap 8, which delayed Sylvain Guintilli, and forced Guintilli to drop back down to 15th.
Michel Fabrizio and Shane Byrne also took a tumble across the circuit before the day was through. 6 riders total retired, shrinking the competitive field to 18.
With a dwindling field, Haslam found his lead growing. Max Biaggi was his closest competitor, who cut down on Haslam’s lead, which peaked at three seconds, but couldn’t find enough in the tanks to catch the season leader. A healthy James Toseland, who crashed at the opening round in Phillip Island, brought his Yamaha to third.
Tony Corser had a big day as he crossed the finish line just ahead of Noriuki Haga to claim fourth. Corser’s fourth place finish gives BMW its best finish ever in the WSBK.
1 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 36'47.723 (150,206 kph)
2 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 1.757
3 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 3.621
4 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 4.209
5 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 4.378
6 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 9.834
7 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 10.466
8 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 16.080
9 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 18.382
10 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 18.589
11 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 22.903
12 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 25.203
13 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 25.676
14 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 26.606
15 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 43.797
16 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 48.094
17 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 48.190
18 17 Andrews S. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 52.863
RET 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F.
RET 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R
RET 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R
RET 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R
RET 123 Resch R. (AUT) BMW S1000 RR
