Racing: Spies takes over from Haga

American Ben Spies is the new leader in the 2009 Superbike World Championship after round 11 at Nurburgring in Germany.

In front of 42,000 spectators, Spies (Yamaha) was first and second in the two 20-lap battles, while his season-long rival Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) crashed out of race two after making contact with eventual winner Jonathan Rea (Honda).

Even though Haga was a close second in race one, it still wasn't enough to hold onto the championship lead, which had been his since the season-opener at Phillip Island on March 1.

With three rounds remaining, Haga is now on 346pts, 18 behind Spies on 364. Italy's Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) is third on 289pts, although his form has started to plateau after a long and grinding season.

"The track was a lot cooler and it was definitely much quicker today," said Spies.

"I didn't get off the line well in race two and a bunch of people came round me in Turn One and I lost almost two seconds to the lead.

"I came up to the front but by the time I got there I just didn't quite have the rear grip to get out of the corners in the last five laps. Johnny (Rea) was not making any mistakes so hats off to him for winning. It wasn't my race, but we've got the championship lead now."

Nurburgring threw up its fair share of thrills and spills, which Australian Troy Corser managed to stay clear of on his ever-improving BMW.

Corser was eighth and sixth, and particularly showed strong speed in race one when he was fourth for the opening 10 laps.

"I think this was a good day for us and we were able to hold our ground after Brno," said Corser.

"We are now dicing with the top guys and that shows how much we have improved since the start of the season. The bike is easier to ride, more comfortable, more consistent and I'm having fun riding it! Now I can put the laps together without a problem.

"We made a bit of a change for the second race and I very nearly got the holeshot! It was good to be in contention with the leaders for a while and now I am waiting for the team to make the next step up, so that I can consistently challenge the leaders. But the main thing is that we are still improving.

"Before the day began, I thought I'd be about the top six or so and I think our results were very good when you consider that there are eight or so factory bikes out there and they've all got more experience than us."

Corser's countrymen weren't so productive in Germany, with Karl Muggeridge (Suzuki) 12th in race one and Broc Parkes (Kawasaki) 13th in race two. They also crashed in their other outings.

Race one was a battle of halves - Haga and Spies led for 10 laps apiece, but Spies was in front when it really mattered.

After Haga slowed on the last lap, Spies, who has signed for one more year of WSBK in 2010 before going MotoGP racing, sauntered to a 3.850sec victory, his 12th in a majestic rookie season.

To put that into perspective, Aussie Troy Bayliss only won 11 races during his dominating WSBK swansong in 2008.

A slow-starting Carlos Checa (Honda) passed Rea with four laps remaining to claim the final podium spot, with Max Biaggi (Aprilia) fifth.

Biaggi improved a finishing spot in race two, but the big news was Haga's crash at Turn One on lap five.

"Before the second race we made a small suspension modification and I had a better feeling with the rear as the race got underway," said Haga.

"I think that would have been of benefit if I had reached the final stages of the race, but unfortunately just I started to push to catch Checa, Rea came up fast on the straight and hit me.

"There was nothing I could do and I couldn't restart the bike. I'm angry as it is the second time this has happened; I guess the only consolation is that I'm not hurt."

Rea believed no-one was at fault.

"Haga ran quite wide and I went on the inside and, although I didn't see him, I felt a big bang and only found out he crashed after the race," he said.

"I'm sorry for that, but I don't think it was my fault and I wouldn't blame him."

With Haga out of the mix and Spies having to make his way through the pack after a tardy start - he was seventh for the first four laps - the race was all set up for Rea.

He eventually won, but Spies harrowed him all the way, which is why the Northern Irishman set a new lap record (1:56.234) on the last lap.

"I knew I had to make no mistakes on the last lap because Ben was so close, so breaking the lap record then was great," said Rea.

"But it's really a testament to how strong the bike is now and hopefully we can take this momentum on to the next race."

Checa completed a pair of third places, with Leon Haslam (Honda) fifth.

In world supersport, championship lead Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) was imperious, defeating Eugene Laverty (Honda) by over 10 seconds, with Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki) a close third.

The only rider who appeared capable of stalking Crutchlow, Honda's Kenan Sofuoglu, crashed on lap six as drizzle began to fall.

Australians Mark Aitchison (Honda), world champion Andrew Pitt (Honda) and Garry McCoy (Triumph) finished in positions 6-8, with Anthony West (Honda) a distant 15th.

New South Welshman Jason O'Halloran did not compete, having been let go by his Honda team late last week.

There will be a one-hour highlights package from Nurburgring on SBS at 12.30pm this Sunday.

NURBURGRING RESULTS
Superbike race one: 20 laps
1 Ben Spies, America, Yamaha 39:04.818
2 Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Ducati +3.850
3 Carlos Checa, Spain, Honda +6.990
4 Jonathan Rea, UK, Honda +7.109
5 Max Biaggi, Italy, Aprilia +12.825
6 Leon Haslam, UK, Honda +13.243
7 Michel Fabrizio, Italy, Ducati +14.223
8 Troy Corser, Australia, BMW +14.382
9 Tom Sykes, UK, Yamaha +17.206
10 Shane Byrne, UK, Ducati +26.542
12 Karl Muggeridge, Australia, Suzuki +30.968
DNF Broc Parkes, Australia, Kawasaki + 18 laps

18 finishers, seven DNF, two DNS
Fastest lap and new record: Haga - 1:56.539 (Previous record: Haga - 1:56.892, 2008)

Superbike race two: 20 laps
1 Rea 39:01.561
2 Spies +0.786
3 Checa +4.993
4 Biaggi +8.191
5 Haslam +10.907
6 Corser +17.152
7 Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan, Honda +19.473
8 Sykes +19.721
9 Fabrizio +22.981
10 Yukio Kagayama, Japan, Suzuki +24.161
13 Parkes +37.281
DNF Muggeridge +7 laps

18 finishers, six DNF, one DNS
Fastest lap and new record: Rea - 1:56.234

Superbike standings (after round 11 of 14):
1  Spies 364
2  Haga 346
3  Fabrizio 289
4  Rea 244
5  Biaggi 224
6  Haslam 201
7  Checa 177
8  Sykes 165
9= Byrne 140
9= Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic, Ducati 140
16  Corser 71
18  Parkes 34
29 Muggeridge 8

Supersport race: 19 laps
1 Cal Crutchlow, UK, Yamaha
2 Eugene Laverty, Ireland, Honda +10.104
3 Joan Lascorz, Spain, Kawasaki +10.250
4 Massimo Roccoli, Italy, Honda +31.890
5 Fabien Foret, France, Yamaha +34.575
6 Mark Aitchison, Australia, Honda +34.724
7 Andrew Pitt, Australia, Honda + 36.352
8 Garry McCoy, Australia, Triumph +36.391
9 Robbin Harms, Denmark, Honda +38.871
10 Danilo Dell'Omo, Italy, Honda +52.944
15 Anthony West, Australia, Honda +1:18.979

Current supersport standings (after round 11 of 13)
1 Crutchlow 210
2 Laverty 188
3 Lascorz 138
4 Kenan Sofuoglu, Turkey, Honda 128
5 Foret 99
6 Anthony West, Australia, Honda 96
7 Pitt 94
8= McCoy 71
8= Aitchison 71
10 Roccoli 62

Next round: Imola, Italy, September 25-27