Race 1
The riders lined up for the opening World Superbike race of the day under perfect conditions at the Valencia race circuit with many expecting a close and exciting encounter. Just how close and exciting it would be, no one would have predicted.Pole man Max Neukirkner made a fantastic start from pole position and led the trio of Troy Bayliss, Lorenzo Lanzi and Ruben Xaus on their 1098 Ducati’s around the first few laps while the field behind started to swap positions and fairing paint.
Nori Haga was looking more like himself and clearly had the pace to run at the front. However Haga was to suffer another cruel blow to his championship challenge when he lost the front going into turn one on lap four while attempting to close down on the leading quartet. In fact a lot of the riders seemed to be struggling with front end grip from their Pirelli tyres. Over the next few laps there were a host of championship contenders who managed to snatch defeat from the jaws or victory with Yukio Kagayama, Ruben Xaus and Michel Fabrizio all dropping their bikes into Valencia’s gravel traps. Bayliss must have been smiling under his crash helmet knowing his main rivals were struggling.
At the front Neukirchner was checking out, managing to build up to a three second gap over second place Bayliss. Further down the field Carlos Checa had managed to settle into a good rhythm and was closing down on the leaders, Max Biaggi who was riding with an injured wrist was struggling on his Sterilgarda Ducati and after a problem entering turn eight ran straight on and effectively gave away a hope of any points in the opening race. Checa’s Hannspree Honda was clearly working very well at the race passed the half way point as he first caught and passed Troy Corser and then set about eroding the gap between himself and the two Podium placed Ducati’s. Lanzi and Bayliss clearly tried to push on but their efforts were in vain as with eight laps to go Checa managed to brush them both aside with relative ease. The only question that remained was could Checa catch the dominant Neukirchner in the final laps and take a win in front of his home fans. The gap remained consistent over the next few laps as both riders raised their game and played out a tactical battle on the timesheets. However Checa started to eek away at Neukirckner’s lead and started the last lap in his wheel tracks. Checa who has years of racing experience over Max looked like he was setting the German up for some last lap heart break, denying him the hard earned victory he so deserved and that’s exactly what happened. Although no one could quite of predicted the final outcome, as Checa dived under Max entering the final turn. Unfortunately for both riders Carlos lost the front taking both riders out of contention for the win. Behind Lanzi had managed to make a last lap pass on Bayliss but was completely unaware that his pass was about to hand him a shock win in race 1.Checa managed to remount and finish in sixth while Neukirkner walked away in disgust at being robbed from his first World Superbike win.
- L Lanzi
- T Bayliss
- T Corser
- F Nieto
- C Checa
- K Muggeridge
- G Lavilla
- R Laconi
- M Tamada
- R Rolfo
- S Nakatomi
- K Sofuoglu
- R Holland
- J Smrz
- D Checa
Race 2
Race two got underway in similar sunny conditions, with many riders hoping that alterations made in the interval would be able to provide them with a more fruitful result.One absentee from the start of race two was Max Neukirckner who should have been on pole position but after the last corner altercation with Carlos Checa in race one injuring his collarbone. So everyone moved up a place leaving Yukio Kagayama on pole.
Kagayama managed to make the most of his new grid position making the jump off pole with Bayliss and Haga in pursuit. Haga seeming a lot more confident with the front of his Yamaha R1, with Checa, Lanzi, Biaggi, Xaus, and Corser in the chasing pack.
Checa was clearly determined to make amends for his first race error and chased down the leading trio over the early stages. Bayliss and Haga appeared to have some good pace while Kagayama seemed slightly cautious after his first race spill.
Checa continued to push dragging Haga away from Bayliss until his Hannspree Honda appeared to suffer some form of electrical malfunction losing some of the top end power. Haga didn’t need a second invitation brushing past back to the front of the field. Checa dropped back to third behind Bayliss but he was able to stabilise the problems with the bike and avoid being caught by Kagayama who was under attack from Xaus, Corser, Biaggi and Kiyonari.
The battle for the remainder of the race was for fourth as the five riders swapped places back and forth battling for the vital points that could keep them in touch with the runaway leader of the championship Troy Bayliss.
Kiyonari, who is clearly starting to adapt to the new championship, showed touches of the class that many of the fans of the British Superbike championship will be only to aware of. He managed to battle passed both Ducati’s and his countryman Kagayama before closing the gap on Corser who was powerless to stop Kiyonari from sweeping passed into what would be a career best finish in a World Superbike race of fourth.
Up front though nothing could stop Nitro Nori Haga, who was back to his sliding best. He was clearly delighted after crossing the line, knowing that if he is to challenge for the title in 2008 that he must put together a run of victories from this point on or wait from a mistake from the otherwise faultless Troy Bayliss.
Bayliss who added another forty points to his championship tally will leave with no complaints from Spain. Bayliss is very aware that every point he can collect counts, after losing out to Colin Edwards in the 2002 World Superbike Championship. If any of the current riders were hoping for similar mistakes from Troy in his final season, I think they better start praying for a miracle.
Checa looked relieved to salvage something out of the weekend with a podium in front of his home fans. In reality a fifth and a third would appear to be fantastic result, but Carlos will know that it could have been so much better had he not had the altercation at the end of race 1.Once again the WSB championship managed to provide fantastic entertainment for the crowd and fans around the world. But when the championship meets up again for round four, the chasing pack need to make inroads into Bayliss’ lead if not they may all be competing for second place.
- N Haga
- T Bayliss
- C Checa
- R Kiyonari
- T Corser
- Y Kagayama
- R Xaus
- M Biaggi
- R Laconi
- F Nieto
- G Lavilla
- L Lanzi
- M Fabrizio
- J Smrz
- K Sofuoglu
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