In The Mix: After two tough races in front of an excellent turnout of 69,500 people two proven powers in World Superbike, Noriyuki Haga and Regis Laconi ended their racedays with a win apiece. Another rider burning his pedigree into the memory of his rivals, Leon Haslam, came of age as he secured his first podium in World Superbike, finishing third in race two. To cap his celebrations, it will be his 21st birthday tomorrow (Monday 31 May), and 21 is the traditional British ‘Coming Of Age’ birthday celebration, when a youth becomes a man.
Race One: Following up his good qualifying performances with an even better race version, Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati 999RS) jumped into the lead of the 28-lap first race, running away to win from the chasing James Toseland (Ducati Fila 999 F04). Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 998RS) was close to second but could not quite make it stick on the final lap. Having set pole position, Troy Corser (Foggy Petronas FP-1) could have hoped for at least a podium but his machine was simply beaten in the corner-exiting contest, the more grunty Ducatis utilising their advantage well. Regis Laconi overcame his ride through penalty to finish sixth.
Race Two: Laconi (Ducati Fila 999F04) whipped his factory Ducati to an impressive second race victory margin of 21.549 seconds after long term race leader Noriyuki Haga was forced to retire on lap 23. James Toseland (Ducati Fila 999F04) overcame his practice problems to finish second, giving the works team another 1-2. It was Toseland’s fourth second placing in a row. Toseland leads the championship by a mere two points, after another intense day of competition in SBK racing. Toseland’s new total is 157, Laconi’s 155 and Chili third on 113.
Chili Up and Down: A third place finish for the PSG-1 Ducati of Pierfrancesco Chili in the opener delivered him his only points of a disappointing day, as he the 39-year-old Italian crashed out of race two while trying to hunt down second place man Laconi.
Hard Day For Honda: The Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR of Chris Vermeulen experienced some technical challenges at Oschersleben, as the rear tyre spun in the rim in race one, the slipper clutch also lost forward grip at an inopportune moment, dropping him to 15th. In race two a suspension or steering component in the front end of the machine caused chatter severe enough to drop Vermeulen from third to eighth.
Petronas People: The first race of the Oschersleben afternoon was kind to pole position man Troy Corser, after he secured fourth place in a complicated race. The Aussie former champion finished 13 seconds down on the winner Haga, a pleasing result given the lack of corner exiting horsepower the 900cc triple possesses. His luck was to desert him in race two, as he crashed out. His team-mate Chris Walker ran his Petronas to seventh in race two, having retired in race on.
Martin Bounces Back: Steve Martin enjoyed a strong ride in race one, finishing fifth. His fortune would change when a blown and seized engine caused his rear wheel to lock up on the exit of a corner, initiating a drawn-out highside crash for the Aussie.
Supersport: Another day spent consulting the rules and regulations of the FIM handbook meant that the original race classification was overturned, and all of the top Honda riders were excluded from the results - for rear wheel axles which were not as originally homologated. That put all three podium finishers, Karl Muggeridge, Broc Parkes and Sebastien Charpentier out of the reckoning. That in turn left the real race winner as Stephane Chambon (Suzuki); second his Alstare team mate Katsuaki Fujiwara and in third place the championship leader Jurgen van den Goorbergh. The championship table now reads, Van Den Goorbergh 89, from Muggeridge 62, from Fujiwara 54. There is an appeal in place on this decision, and a final decision will be made at an FIM meeting in Geneva, after the race.
The next races, in SBK and WSS championships, will take place at Silverstone, on June 13.
