World SBK: Haga runs two gutsy races at Brno to stay at the top

World Superbike Press Release

Noriyuki Haga rode two of the bravest races of his career at Brno, getting straight to work in Race 1, and making up three positions during the opening lap alone. With several riders crashing out, team-mate Fabrizio included, Nitro-Nori progressed up to eighth place by the seventh lap, and spent the remainder of the race battling it out against Smrz, Tamada and Haslam. Making it past fellow Japanese rider Tamada on lap sixteen, Noriyuki crossed the finish line in a worthy eighth position, taking eight points and thus extending his championship lead to 22 points over Spies.

Doctor Corbascio of the Clinica Mobile continued to administer painkillers and injections to the sore shoulder during the day, doing everything possible to enable Nori to complete the race distance. In Race 2 Haga made up six positions by making a strong start and, by passing both Byrne and Corser, he then remained in sixth position for the remainder of the race, a few seconds off the pace of the leaders, and far enough ahead of the chasing pack to be safe. The 10 points earned in race 2 mean that Haga maintains his advantage in the overall classification, with 326 points to Spies' 319. Fabrizio holds third position with 273 points. Ducati leads the constructors championship with a fifty point advantage over Yamaha.

"I am not very happy but we have worked well this weekend despite the difficulties" declared Haga. "The fractured scapula prevented me from performing as I hoped to. Having said that, I gained valuable points and find myself still in the lead, seven points ahead of Ben. I want to thank Doctor Corbascio and the Clinica Mobile doctors and also Rok, my trainer, for their help and support in these weeks. I also thank my team and Ducati for doing all they could to make me more comfortable on the bike and make the bike easier to ride. In the circumstances it's a good result. Now I can go home to Japan with a smile on my face and there I will get down to some serious training to be in top form in time for Nurburgring, a track that I like a lot and where I hope I can rebuild my advantage."