Things started of roughly Yamaha Motor Italia’s Nori Haga at the third round of the 2008 World Superbike Series, held Sunday afternoon, April 6, 2008 at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain. In the opening leg, Haga high-sided his Yamaha YZF-R1 while running in fifth place on the third lap, and for al intents and purposes, his race was run. On the brighter side of things, Haga’s Yamaha Motor Italia teammate Troy Corser placed third (albeit four seconds back from the leaders).

The second 23-lap race was an entirely different matter for Nor Haga and the Yamaha Motor Italia team. Haga — who had finished no better than ninth in ANY World Superbike race thus far in 2008 — came roaring back in race two in Valencia to fend off the advances of Ducati Xerox rider Troy Bayliss to take the win. Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa finishing third. Hanspree Ten Kate Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari placed fourth and Haga’s teammate, Troy Corser, was fifth overall.

Valencia, Spain World Superbike Race Two Results:

1. Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha)
2. Troy Bayliss (Ducati)
3. Carlos Checa (Honda)
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda)
5. Troy Corser (Yamaha)
6. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki)
7. Ruben Xaus (Ducati)
8. Max Biaggi (Ducati)
9. Regis Laconi (Kawasaki)
10. Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki)