Two Chapters: Noriyuki Haga Gains Ground at EuroSpeedway World Superbike

Chapter 1
In race one of the World Superbike round held on Sunday, September 9, 2007 at the EuroSpeedway in Lausitz, Germany, Yamaha Motor Italia’s Noriyuki Haga smoked the field, defeating Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki’s Max Biaggi by nearly 11 seconds. Troy Bayliss led the first five laps of the race, maintaining a solid three-second lead. Haga, however, twisted the throttle to the stops, chipped away at the Australian’s lead, and on lap number 14 moved up on him, made the pass, then simply disappeared over the horizon to win handily. On lap number 20, Biaggi went by Bayliss to earn the runner-up spot. Troy Corser also found his way around Bayliss’ Ducati to place third. Bayliss held off Hanspree Ten Kate Honda’s Robby Rolfo to place fourth.

Team Kawasaki riders Regis Laconi and Fonsi Nieto — despite starting the race from the front row — placed sixth and seventh, ahead of Ducati Xerox’s Lorenzo Lanzi and World Superbike championship leader James Toseland.

Chapter 2
Although Noriyuki Haga held a riding clinic in race number one in Germany, things were dramatically different the second time out with Ducati Xerox’s Troy Bayliss and Haga battling fiercely to the bitter end. Bayliss and the Japanese rider shadowed one another throughout the second race at the EuroSpeedway, but as the race wound down to the final few laps, Bayliss was able to find that little something extra, flashing beneath the checkered flag 1.3 seconds ahead of Haga’s Yamaha. 13 seconds later, all alone in third place, came Max Biaggi. The battle for fourth was dazzling with James Toseland and Yamaha Motor Italia’s Troy Corser trying to one-up each other. In the end, on the white flag lap, Toseland and the Hanspree Ten Kate Honda got the better of Corser. Ruben Xaus was sixth, some 10 seconds back.

As the 2007 World, Superbike Series begins to wind down to its conclusion, Nori Haga first and second place finishes in Germany allowed him to gain seven points on series leader Toseland. Nonetheless, the rider from Great Britain still maintains a healthy 41-point lead (375 to 334). Third in points is Max Biaggi with 322.