WSBK: Corser back on song

Australia's Troy Corser has made a welcome return to a place where he once roamed with complete authority - at the sharp end of a world superbike field.

The two-time world champion guided his BMW to its best ever WSBK result at round three in Valencia when he was a hard-fought fourth in race one behind championship leader Leon Haslam (Suzuki), Max Biaggi (Aprilia) and James Toseland (Yamaha).

The Wollongong rider even led for a few laps early on, and is optimistic that his woes with the hitherto fickle BMW are now behind him.

"Race one was great. That's where I expect us to be right now," said Corser. "The bike just felt good. We were able to compete with the top guys, to manage the tyres and to go at race pace until the chequered flag.

"We did not change a lot for the second race. Unfortunately I lacked grip over the entire race distance. We now have to analyse the data and see what we can learn."

Corser was a lowly 12th in race two, which was won by Japan's Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) to make him the most successful WSBK rider at Valencia with six wins.

Both 23-lap races were held under clear Spanish skies, but they couldn't have been more different. The opener saw Haslam win an uninterrupted contest after leading for all but two laps, while Haga won on aggregate in race two after the first attempt was red-flagged when Briton Simon Andrews - Aussie Chris Vermeulen's sub on the factory Kawasaki - crashed at high speed and fractured his foot.

After a further 20 lap to complete a full distance, Haga just scraped in on aggregate by 0.025secs over Carlos Checa (Ducati).

"I like Valencia a lot. I am Mr Valencia!" said Haga. "Before the red flag in race two I made a good start and was in fifth position. In the restart I started from fifth and I kept a good pace.

"It was not easy to catch and pass the top two riders but in the last few laps I pushed hard and took the win. I was not thinking about the time difference I just knew I had to go at the front.
I'm very happy to have been able to win today. I thank my team, Ducati of course, and all the sponsors who helped contribute to this great result."

Biaggi was third to make it two podiums for the day, ahead of Haslam, who had brake problems to deal with.

"The lever kept coming all the way back to the bar and that meant I couldn't be close to other riders and then pull out and pass them," said Haslam. "I didn't feel confident braking and after three or four laps I was praying that the race would come to an end or that somebody in front would stop and I would get another podium.

"I am happy to be leading the series; delighted that I have increased the lead; and really looking forward to Assen -- a circuit where I think our bike will go really well."

Haslam now leads by 18pts (123 to 105) over Biaggi, with Checa (80) remaining in third despite a race one crash at Valencia. Haga (79) has clawed his way up to fourth ahead of Jonathan Rea (Honda, 60). Corser (46) shares equal eighth with Italy's Michel Fabrizio (Ducati).

Port Macquarie's Andrew Pitt (BMW) is 19th, after finishing with 15-16 results at Valencia.

World supersport saw local rider Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki) blitz, taking advantage when his rivals slowed mid-race to post the fastest lap of the race and make a break.

A sometimes tight battle for second saw Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) eventually outlast Chaz Davies (Triumph), with David Salom (Triumph) and Phillip island winner Eugene Laverty (Honda) fourth and fifth.

At the top of the table, Lascorz now has 65pts to Sofuoglu's 61.

VALENCIA WORLD SUPERBIKE RESULTS
Race one: 23 laps
1 Leon Haslam, Great Britain, Suzuki 36:47.323
2 Max Biaggi, Italy, Aprilia +1.757
3 James Toseland, Great Britain, Yamaha +3.621
4 Troy Corser, Australia, BMW +4.209
5 Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Ducati +4.378
6 Jonathan Rea, Great Britain, Honda +9.834
7 Cal Crutchlow, Great Britain, Yamaha +10.466
8 Lorenzo Lanzi, Italy, Ducati +16.080
9 Sylvain Guintoli, France, Suzuki +18.382
10 Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic, Ducati +18.589
15 Andrew Pitt, Australia, BMW +43.797

Fastest lap: Carlos Checa, Spain, Ducati - 1:34.750

Race two: 23 laps
1 Haga 36:51.500
2 Carlos Checa, Spain, Ducati +0.025
3 Biaggi +0.299
4 Haslam +10.100
5 Rea +12.811
6 Guintoli +13.459
7 Toseland +14.845
8 Shane Byrne, Great Britain, Ducati +14.865
9 Crutchlow +15.202
10 Smrz +18.071
12 Corser +26.116
16 Pitt +43.244

Fastest lap: Biaggi - 1:34.632

WORLD SUPERBIKE STANDINGS (AFTER ROUND THREE OF 13):
1 Haslam 123
2 Biaggi 105
3 Checa 80
4 Haga 79
5 Rea 60
6= Toseland 50
6= Guintoli 50
8= Michel Fabrizio, Italy, Ducati 46
8= Corser 46
10 Crutchlow 41
19 Pitt 3

Next round: Assen, Netherlands, April 23-25