Phillip Island (Australia), Saturday 27th February : the first Superpole of the 2010 World Superbike season took place this afternoon at a breezy Phillip Island, and Ducati Xerox rider Michel Fabrizio was undoubtedly one of the protagonists, putting in a strong and consistent performance to snatch second place on tomorrow’s grid, and missing out on pole by just a fraction of a second. Team-mate Noriyuki Haga had a more difficult time, qualifying in tenth place for the opening races of the year. Of the first ten bikes on tomorrow’s grid, five are Ducati 1198s, yet another a demonstration of the bike’s competitiveness.

In this morning’s qualifying, and on a much cooler track compared to yesterday, the three fastest riders from yesterday, Checa, Fabrizio and Haslam did not manage to improve on their best times but they nevertheless held on the top three spots on the timesheet, qualifying first to third for the afternoon’s Superpole. Noriyuki, maintaining a similar pace to yesterday, preferred to work with a used tire than change to a fresh one in the final minutes to record a fast lap, meaning that he qualified for Superpole in fourteenth place. It is interesting to note that the fastest seventeen riders lapped within seven tenths of a second of each other, a sure sign that this year’s championship will be extremely hard fought.

As expected, Superpole was a close battle between the top eight. In the first of the three phases, 14 minutes in length, Nori immediately recorded a time fast enough for him to be able to return to the garage, safe in the knowledge that he had done enough. Michel meanwhile needed a tire change before his fastest lap propelled him up the timesheets to third place, to easily proceed to phase two along with his team-mate.

In the second mini-Superpole both factory riders went out on qualifiers, Michel making a fast lap and Nori changing tire mid-session. What seemed to be a clean lap for Haga unfortunately failed to equate to a fast enough lap, due to an apparent lack of rear grip which meant that Haga’s Superpole finished here, with the tenth fastest time of the afternoon, although only two tenths off Michel’s pace in the same session.

Michel, who still had a qualifier left to use in the final phase, pushed to the limit and it seemed that the pole position was within his grasp, but it all came down to a fraction of a second, with Michel ultimately closing in second place, just 0.016 of a second from Haslam on the Suzuki. Lining up in the first eight on tomorrow’s grid are also the Ducati 1198s of Checa (Althea Racing) in fourth and Smrz (Team Pata B&G Racing) in sixth.

Three-time world champion Troy Bayliss is once again special guest at the Phillip Island circuit this weekend and it was he who presented former team-mate Michel Fabrizio with his Superpole trophy today. Troy will continue to work as a Ducati “ambassador” in 2010.

Michel Fabrizio
“Today’s Superpole was very difficult but I am very happy with the final result. I lost out on the pole by just a fraction of a second which is a shame, but it’s not the first time that that has happened and the important thing is that I’m on the front row tomorrow. I was happy with my flying lap, a clean lap, with no-one in front of me. Tomorrow will be an equally difficult challenge, and various riders, me, Haslam, Checa, Biaggi and Nori will surely be in contention. We know we have a good race pace and I’m feeling confident for the races.”

Noriyuki Haga
“In the second phase of the Superpole I went out on a race tire but even though it felt like a clean lap, the time was not quick enough and unfortunately that put me out of the fight, and I finished tenth. Tomorrow I will of course need to make a fantastic start but I am confident that I am able to do that. I apologise to Ducati for the fact that I’m on the third row but I will, as ever, do my best in the races. Last year I started from 13th and won the race so I know it is possible to achieve a great result regardless of grid position.”

TIMES (Superpole): 1. Haslam (Suzuki) 1’31.2; 2. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 1’31.2; 3. Crutchlow (Yamaha) 1’31.6; 4. Checa (Ducati) 1’31.6; 5. Guintoli (Suzuki) 1’31.6; 6. Smrz (Ducati) 1’31.7; 7. Rea (Honda) 1’21.9; 8. Toseland (Yamaha) 1’32.0; 9. Lanzi (Ducati) 1’32.3; 10. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 1’32.7

At 5pm this afternoon Ducati Xerox rider Noriyuki Haga underwent successful surgery at the Derby City Hospital. Having fractured the ulna in his right arm in yesterday’s crash at Donington Park, Noriyuki today had a plate and screws inserted to set the bone. The surgical team deemed the surgery a success and there were no unforeseen complications.

Prior to the operation, medical staff took a closer look at his right shoulder blade and an x-ray unfortunately confirmed that he has multiple fractures to his left scapula. The scapula will not necessitate surgical intervention and the bone should knit itself back together in time; this complication should not prolong Noriyuki’s recovery time. The Japanese rider should be discharged from hospital tomorrow (Tuesday) and he and his family will fly back to Italy so that Noriyuki can begin the necessary physiotherapy treatment.

The Ducati Xerox rider will not participate in the next tests at Imola but it is foreseen that he will compete in the next round at Brno.

Derby (UK), Monday  June 29th: Noriyuki Haga, Ducati Xerox Team rider and current leader of the World Superbike Championship, was transported to the Emergency department of Derby City Hospital by helicopter at about 5pm yesterday afternoon, after having been victim of a massive high-side during Race 2 at Donington Park.

The Japanese rider, accompanied by doctors from the Clinica Mobile, was seen by Doctor Rajan and once extensive tests and un urgent CAT scan were carried out, Dr. Rajan declared that the fracture to one of the vertebrae that had shown up on the X-ray taken at the circuit’s Medical Centre was actually a very old fracture and must have been caused during another much earlier incident, years previously. This fracture has, over time, sealed without medical intervention and doesn’t present a problem.

After a stable night in the Pre-Op assessment ward of Derby City Hospital, Noriyuki Haga will undergo surgery this afternoon to insert a plate and screws in his right forearm, to set a fracture to the right ulna. He is continuing to experience pain in the left shoulder blade, and so although no serious damage has yet been detected, doctors will investigate further to understand the cause of the pain.

The only injury needing immediate treatment at this time is the broken ulna. If the surgery is deemed a success, and there are no complications regarding his shoulder blade, Noriyuki should be able to return home to Italy in the next two days and the Ducati Xerox Team does not currently exclude the possibility of Noriyuki’s return to the track in time for the next round in the Czech Republic, on the 26^th July at Brno.

Donington Park (UK) -  Sunday, June 28th: with the third place finish achieved in Race 1 at Donington Park today, Noriyuki Haga becomes the third rider in Superbike history to have obtained 100 podiums. Unfortunately in race 2 Haga was victim of a serious crash in which he has suffered a fracture of one of the spinal vertebrae. He has been transferred this afternoon to Derby hospital where the medical team will further evaluate the situation.

In the first race Noriyuki made a strong start and found himself in third position behind Spies and Biaggi. When the leading two began to pull away the Japanese rider did all he could to stick with them but the gap increased and Noriyuki rode a lonely last few laps. His team-mate Michel lost a few position at the start and found it subsequently difficult to make up the lost ground, mainly due to a technical problem with the gears. Losing further positions in the final phase of the race, Fabrizio was however able to collect three points,  finishing in twelfth place.

In Race 2 Nakano and Rea crashed out early on living Fabrizio a small advantage; in the initial laps the Italian rider progressed from ninth to third position. Despite Byrne’s defensive riding, Michel finally managed to pass him aftger nineteen laps, maintaining second position as far as the checkered flag.

Noriyuki made another good start and was in second place by the end of the first lap, but on the fourth lap he suffered a bad fall while entering Coppice Corner. He was immediately transferred to the track’s medical centre where the doctors declared a fracture of one of his vertebrae. At this point it was decided to move him by helicopter to Derby hospital where he will receive further medical attention.

Noriyuki ha finished on the podium in thirteen of the eighteen races run so far, Michel in eleven; with today’s results, the Ducati Xerox team continue their 100% podium record.
Noriyuki is only the third ever rider in Superbike history to score 100 podiums; only Corser with 128 and Fogarty with 109 have achieved more. Of the 100 podiums, 39 have been race wins.

Haga continues to lead the championship, holding 308 points ahead of Spies with 294 and Fabrizio with 257. Ducati leads the constructors classification with 383 points to Yamaha’s 337.

Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 -3rd, Race 2 – DNF)
Race 1: “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.”
Race 2: Haga, after today’s accident, was unavavilable for comment at time of print.

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – 12th, Race 2 – 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.”

These results from race two at Kyalami conclude the ‘dream weekend’ for Ducati. For me it just suspends my confusion as under any other circumstance I would like nothing better than to see Haga win a Would Superbike Championship. Like I said… under any other circumstances.

Pos. # Rider, Bike – Gap

1 41 N. Haga, Ducati 1098R – 39′45.027 (153,816 kph)
2 84 M. Fabrizio, Ducati 1098R – 0.322
3 65 J. Rea, Honda CBR1000RR – 8.936
4 91 L. Haslam, Honda CBR1000RR – 10.561
5 3 M. Biaggi, Aprilia RSV4 Factory – 10.767
6 7 C. Checa, Honda CBR1000RR – 12.413
7 56 S. Nakano, Aprilia RSV4 Factory – 12.616
8 71 Y. Kagayama, Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 – 14.878
9 66 T. Sykes, Yamaha YZF R1 – 16.225
10 96 J. Smrz, Ducati 1098R – 18.197
11 132 S. Morais, Kawasaki ZX 10R – 20.629
12 36 G. Lavilla, Ducati 1098R – 24.320
13 9 R. Kiyonari, Honda CBR1000RR – 24.564
14 23 B. Parkes, Kawasaki ZX 10R – 38.747
15 10 F. Nieto, Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 – 50.045
16 25 D. Salom, Kawasaki ZX 10R – 57.999
17 33 T. Hill, Honda CBR1000RR – 1′05.973
18 17 S. Martin, BMW S1000 RR – 1′28.685
19 49 S. Whyte, Yamaha YZF R1
DNF 99 L. Scassa, Kawasaki ZX 10R
DNF 67 S. Byrne, Ducati 1098R
DNF 19 B. Spies, Yamaha YZF R1
DNF 111 R. Xaus, BMW S1000 RR
DNF 31 K. Muggeridge, Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9

These are the Results from the first World Superbike Race at Kyalami. It would be Haga’s second win at the circuit.

Pos. # Rider, Team – Bike – gap

1 41 N.HAGA, Ducati Xerox Team – Ducati 1098R –
2 84 M.FABRIZIO, Ducati Xerox Team – Ducati 1098R – 0.950
3 19 B. SPIES, Yamaha WSB – Yamaha YZF R1 24 3.391
4 65 J. REA, Hanspree Ten Kate Honda – Honda CBR1000RR – 8.914
5 3 M.BIAGGI, Aprilia Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – 9.019
6 7 C.CHECA, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda – Honda CBR1000RR – 14.812
7 56 S. NAKANO, Aprilia Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – 14.971
8 71 Y. KAGAYAMA, Suzuki Alstare BRUX – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 – 15.723
9 67 S. BYRNE, Sterilgarda – Ducati 1098R –
10 66 T. SYKES, Yamaha WSB – Yamaha YZF R1 – 21.795
11 36 G.LAVILLA, Guandalini Racing – Ducati 1098R – 29.872
12 9 R.KIYONARI, Ten Kate Honda Racing – Honda CBR1000RR – 34.216
13 132 S. MORAIS, Kawasaki World Superbike – Kawasaki ZX 10R – 34.275
14 96 J. SMRZ, Guandalini Racing – Ducati 1098R – 38.280
15 23 B. PARKES, Kawasaki World Superbike – Kawasaki ZX 10R – 40.885
16 10 F. NIETO, Suzuki Alstare BRUX – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 – 44.841
17 99 L. SCASSA, Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX 10R – 49.075
18 31 K. MUGGERIDGE, Celani Race – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 – 49.702
19 33 T. HILL, Honda Althea Racing – Honda CBR1000RR – 50.065
20 25 D. SALOM, Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX 10R – 50.391
21 49 S.WHYTE, Yamaha France – GMT 94 – Yamaha YZF R1 – 1 Lap
22 17 S. MARTIN, BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000 RR – 2 Laps

Not Classified————————————————–
RET 91 L. HASLAM, Stiggy Racing Honda – Honda CBR1000RR – 10 Laps
RET 111 R. XAUS, BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000 RR – 23 Laps

After a six year absence the World Superbike circus returns this season to the South African track of Kyalami and the Ducati Xerox team packs their bags for another long-haul trip.

Last there in 2002, when then Ducati factory rider Troy Bayliss powered his 998 to victory in both of the day’s races, the current Ducati Xerox factory squad and riders, Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio, look forward to the challenge that the only “new” circuit to feature on this year’s calendar will surely provide.

Noriyuki has the added advantage of having raced, and won, Superbike events at this track before. He is one of very few current Superbike riders to have already raced there, between 1998 and 2002; only “veterans” Xaus, Laconi and Corser have raced alongside Nitro-Nori at Kyalami in the past and, of these, only Noriyuki has ever achieved a race win.

Having taken part in the Pirelli development tests here in December, and having registered in the process some extremely fast lap times with the Ducati 1198 bikes, the Ducati factory squad and it’s riders Noriyuki and Michel are all confident that they are ready for the challenge that Kyalami sets them. On the final day of the winter test session, Michel registered a flying lap of 1m39.7s on a qualifying tire, the fastest lap ever made by a motorcycle at the Kyalami track. After four years on board the Yamaha, Noriyuki rode his new Ducati 1198 for the first time during those winter tests and made an immediate impression by recording the third fastest time overall.

Last weekend at Monza Michel had the best Superbike race weekend of his career so far, winning Race 1 and finishing runner-up in Race 2. Noriyuki followed his team-mate across the line to take second in Race 1 but was unable to fight for the Race 2 victory after he suffered an unlikely incident at the start of the that race; a large bird flew into his right arm while he was riding at a speed of 238km/h, causing the laceration of his bicep muscle and subsequent fall.

Noriyuki, one of the stalwarts of World Superbikes, is the only current rider able to say that he has won a Superbike race at Kyalami before now, back in 2000.

Noriyuki Haga (1st in championship, 200 points)

“My arm is still sore today after my run in with a bird at Monza but I’ll be fine to race this weekend. I have to think back a long way to remember the 2000 win at Kyalami! But I recall that in the other race that day I had a really close battle for the win with Colin (Edwards) and Fogarty. It’s a great track and I’m happy to go back there again. Winter testing went well there, but it was my first experience riding the 1198 so there were a few ups and downs let’s say! Now I’m at ease on the bike and we’re well into the season, it’ll be interesting to go back and see how we fare over the race weekend – it should be fun.”

Michel, part of the current crop of young Superbike riders, has not yet had the chance to race at Kyalami but was consistently the fastest rider on track in pre-season winter testing sessions held there in December.

Michel Fabrizio (3rd in championship, 125 points)

“Having at last won a race this weekend at Monza I just want to win again as soon as possible! From what I learned of the track during the winter I can say that I’m really looking forward to this round. The Kyalami circuit is really fun to ride and I did well at the two “new” tracks in 2008 (Salt Lake City and Portimao) so I’d like it if this year’s new track were also to bring me similar luck. We recorded some very fast lap times during the test days and so of course we hope that conditions over the race weekend allow us to maintain that pace.”

The Dutch crowds were witness to two spectacular Superbike races today at the historic TT circuit and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) followed up a second place finish in Race 1 with a brilliant victory in Race 2, his second win at this track after the first, achieved nine years back in the year 2000.

In Race 1 Ducati Xerox rider Noriyuki Haga did not made a brilliant start and spent the first laps playing catch up to Ben Spies and Max Neukirchner. Once the second-placed Suzuki rider was out of the way, after an unfortunate fall during lap six, Noriyuki was able to choose his moment carefully to pass Spies during the twelfth lap. He subsequently held on to the lead ahead of Spies and Englishman Haslam until the very last lap when the American executed a well-timed pass that left Nitro-Nori with no time to retaliate, meaning that man in red Haga just missed on victory by a tenth of a second.

Meanwhile Noriyuki?s team-mate Michel lost a few positions due to a not particularly fast start and although he made up a few places by mid-race, the ensuing close battle between himself, Smrz, Rea and Laconi made things tough and Fabrizio thus concluded Race 1 in ninth position.

In Race 2 Noriyuki again got off to a flying start and went straight to the head of the pack, a fraction of a second behind Spies, who passed the leader?s baton on to Haga during the very first lap when he highsided in spectacular fashion and was thus forced to retire from the race. Haga then ran a lonely race up front, with team-mate Fabrizio and Honda rider Haslam fighting behind him for the second and third positions. Unfortunately Michel, who held off fourth-placed Smrz for the majority of the race, began to have problems getting his 1198 into gear during the final laps and eventually this meant that he just lost out on third, having to settle for a fourth place finish.

Noriyuki?s performance today means that he has further increased his championship lead, with 180 points and a 60 point advantage over second-placed Spies. The manufactures championship continues to be led by Ducati with 180 points, ahead of Yamaha with 145.

Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 ? 2nd, Race 2 – winner)

“It?s been a great day for us and after nine years I have finally won again at Assen; I am very happy. In Race 1 I was a little disappointed to just lose out on the win on the very last lap but it was a great race. I set off strong but Spies and Haslam rode so hard today. First I had to push hard to catch Spies which was quite difficult as my bike was still not working perfectly and then to hold the lead was not easy either as the two of them were breathing down my neck. We changed the setting of the bike slightly for Race 2 and I was extremely comfortable on it. I?m sorry that Ben fell as I think we would have had another good battle but for me and my team it?s been a very good day. I thank my engineer, my team, Ducati and the sponsors and now we head to Monza for the next challenge.?

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 ? 9th, Race 2 – 4th) ?I am of course very disappointed as I did my utmost to be on the podium here today. I had to grit my teeth in both of today?s races as I was once again having problems with my arm. In the last few laps I was having trouble changing gear and this then forced me to slow in the last lap, which meant that Smrz passed me at the final corner. I guess that, looking on the positive side, it?s a good thing it happened at the end of the last lap because at least I was able to finish the race and take important points. These things happen and we look ahead to Monza. After recent testing there I?m sure my team will work hard to give me a winning bike for the next round and I hope to be able to celebrate a win with them there.?

The Ducati Xerox Team concluded the first day of the race weekend at the TT Circuit of Assen in warm, dry conditions. The two factory riders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio completed the early afternoon free practice session among the fastest ten riders; Noriyuki did not experience any particular set-backs while Michel felt he was suffering from a lack of rear grip. Later on, in the first qualifying session, nearly all of the Superbike riders were faster than they had been in the practice. Fabrizio continued to suffer from the same grip issues at the start but then found a solution on the latter part of the session that he felt more comfortable with, allowing him to register the fifth fastest time of the day. His team-mate Haga closed in twelfth position but remains positive ahead of tomorrow?s second qualifying. The fastest 16 riders today lapped in under 1m40 and all within a second of each other, with the exception of Spies who was the only man to duck under 1m39.

Michel Fabrizio 1m39.2s

?I am feeling fairly happy with today?s performance. I am losing a few tenths, all in the first split and that has to be resolved tomorrow. I think we?ve already identified a rear tyre solution for the race but we?re still unsure as to the front. I had some grip problems with the front today but towards the end of the qualifying the feeling I had with the bike began to improve so we hope that we can continue to make improvements tomorrow too.?

Noriyuki Haga 1m39.6s

“It?s been a fairly positive day and I?m feeling comfortable. The only real problem is that we have good rear traction that means we are consuming tyres too quickly. So tomorrow we need to find a way to increase the life of the tyres without losing grip. So although I wasn?t fastest today, the Race is Sunday and as far as I?m concerned, the sessions on Friday are for finding solutions for the race. Tomorrow I aim to qualify at the front of the grid.?