Ben Spies (Yamaha WSB) pulled off another amazing weekend - taking Superpole and the top spot both races at Donington Park. The Texan has now reduced the 48 point gap at the top of the table to 14 from Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), who crashed in race 2. Fortunately the initial reports of a broken vertebrae have proven slightly incorrect as the cracked vertebrae appears to be an old injury. Unfortunately, Haga will still have to content with a severly broken wrist and scapula. While it's unclear if Haga will race 3 weeks time Brno - it certainly seems unlikely, even for the historically tough Japanese rider.
Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) was third in race 2 and is now 51 points behind. Aprilia had a good first race, with Max Biaggi second at the finish, while the best of the numerous British platoon present at Donington was Leon Haslam (Stiggy Racing Honda), who finished second to Spies in race 2.
In race 1, Spies continued to steamroll his way to the wins as he took his ninth victory of the year. After setting his eighth pole in qualifying, the Texan rider dominated the 23-lap race but was shadowed all the way by Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing). The Italian ran faultlessly in second until the final lap, when Ben upped the ante to power to the chequered flag, but Biaggi also encountered a fuel problem a couple of hundred metres from the flag and risked losing out on second. This was Biaggi's first podium since Qatar. Third went to points leader Haga, who limited the damage in a race where he was not in a position to challenge for the win. In the all-British battle for fourth place, Haslam got the better of Shane Byrne (Sterilgarda Ducati). Aprilia's excellent performance was completed by a sixth place for Shinya Nakano. Home idol and Misano winner Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) could only finish in seventh, ahead of John Hopkins (Stiggy Racing Honda). Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) had a gear change problem and could only finish 12th, while Ruben Xaus scored one point for BMW.
Spies also dominated the second race, but this time without any pressure from his rivals. The Yamaha man immediately pulled away at the start to pick up a seven second lead, which he administered easily to pick up his tenth win of the year. Spies' double coincided with a disaster for Haga, who crashed out of second place on lap 5 while trying to make up ground on the leader. The Japanese rider was taken to hospital in Derby with a fractured vertebra and other injuries. Race 2 saw a British rider on the podium, thanks to Haslam, who held off Fabrizio. With the outcome of this race, the Italian keeps alive his title chances. Byrne put on another good show, finishing fourth ahead of fellow Brit Tom Sykes. Xaus again scored points for BMW, this time with a positive ninth place. Both Aprilia riders crashed out, Biaggi suffering a hairline crack in his right foot in the process, but remounting to finish 21st, while John Hopkins (Stiggy Racing Honda) did not make it to the start of race 2, the still-injured American totally exhausted after his race 1 efforts.
Race 1 Highlights
Race 2 Highlights
Ben Spies - Yamaha WSB - 1st/1st It was a picture perfect weekend. It was a tough race, Max was there the whole time but we were able to do quick laps to stay ahead, the last three laps I rode as hard as I could just to make sure of the win. In the second race I knew Nori had a big crash and I hope he's ok. It's not the way we want to win it but you have to take the points when you can. It was a good second race for us though. The track was hot and a bit slick so we made some changes to the bike which made it better from race one. It was a good job for Leon, getting on the podium at his home round was great, I know how that feels. It was tough being out on my own, I had to focus lap to lap to make sure I didn't make any mistakes. I can't thank the Yamaha guys enough we changed a lot of things around and they came and delivered me two really good bikes to win on.
Max Biaggi - Aprilia - 2nd/21st I am very happy with this result after a very hard decision we made in free practice and qualifying. Yesterday we found a way to go fast and we made the right choice in tyres and the balance was correct. In the warm-up we had some problems but for the race we fixed most of them. Just on the last lap at the last chicane we had some trouble, I don't know what, the bike just stopped and then went back again in the last few metres before the flag. I think I deserved second!
Michel Fabrizio - Xerox Ducati - 12th/3rd Race 1 was very difficult, I had a problem with the gears and because of this I lost several positions. I couldn't do much to improve the situation and in the end I could only bring home three points. Before Race 2 we decided to go out with the second bike. I again made a bad start but immediately started to work to regain ground. I spent most of the race battling it out against Byrne and Haslam, just managing to pass Shakey near the end. I'm happy with my race 2 result but I am of course sorry for Nori. I saw the accident and it reminded me of Troy's crash in the same place two years ago, both serious.
Noriyuki Haga - Xerox Ducati - 3rd/DNF I'm very happy to have made the podium today because we knew it would be a very difficult weekend. I am proud to have reached the 100 podium mark! At the start of Race 1 I did all I could to stick with Max and Ben but, even though I was pushing, today they seemed to have a small advantage and I was unable to do better than third. [Understandably Haga was unable to comment after/regarding Race 2]
Leon Haslam - Stiggy Honda - 4th/2nd After going to all these foreign countries it is so good to be back home and taking a good result in front of the English fans. To get the reception I got here today is just amazing. I was pushing for a good result here today and to be on the podium in the second race is just great. I had a few chatter issues in both races, but I managed to hold them off. Everyone seemed to be struggling with the grip in that second session. I felt pretty good on the first and second sector, but the Ducatis were really strong on the last split, so I had to work hard to keep them behind me. The pace was not that good, but I managed to hold it up and bring the bike home in second. I am looking forward to our test in Brno and am ready to make one more step ahead now and get on top of that podium.
