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BSB opener off, but the sun shines in Spain
Race 1: Carlos Checa (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) and Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Alstare) were the protagonists of the first race. Neukirchner led every lap from pole position until the final corner, when Checa dived inside, but the Spaniard crashed and took his German rival down with him. Neukirchner suffered a broken left collarbone in the incident and failed to take part in race 2, while Checa remounted to finish fifth. The win went to Lorenzo Lanzi, the third in his career, after he passed Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) with one lap to go. Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) and Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki Alstare) were third and fourth, while Haga crashed out on lap 4 and Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) finished out of the points in sixteenth place.
"For me it's a fantastic result" declared Lanzi. "We worked very well throughout the weekend to get this result. The team is a new one in World Superbikes this year and it's difficult for us. It was a hard-fought race today, Troy is a world champion and is very fast but you need a bit of good luck in racing and I certainly had it today."
Race 2: Bayliss led for seven laps but was passed by Checa. The Honda man then had a electrical problem on lap 12 and both he and Troy were passed by Haga on lap 12. The Japanese rider was able to hold off Bayliss until the end to take his first win of the year. Bayliss's two second places increased his championship lead to 48 points over Nieto, who could only manage fourth and tenth today. Kiyonari (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) took his best result of the season in fourth, ahead of Corser, Kagayama, Xaus and Biaggi, who rode a heroic race to finish eighth.
"Of course I am very happy for this result" declared Haga."It was a fast race and unlike the first I actually had a good feeling with the bike. I lost the front and crashed with my first bike in race 1 and had to use my second bike for this one. Honestly today I was quite surprised for the win, but we know which is our problem and the team improvised and found the solutions to let me take the win.
Superbike Race One Result
1, L Lanzi (Ducati) 37m01.894s, 2 T Bayliss (Ducati) +2.987s, 3, T Corser (Yamaha) +7.287s, 4, F Nieto (Suzuki) +11.992s, 5, C Checa (Honda) +12.824s, 6, K Muggeridge (Honda) +13.125s, 7, G Lavilla (Vent Axia VK Honda) +13.191s, 8, R Laconi (Kawasaki) +13.906s, 9, M Tamada (Kawasaki) +17.254s, 10, R Rolfo (Honda) +18.606s.
Superbike Race Two Result
1, N Haga (Yamaha) 37m03.759s, 2, T Bayliss (Ducati) +1.551s, 3, C Checa (Honda) +2.903s, 4, R Kiyonari (Honda) +7.277s, 5, T Corser (Yamaha) +8.051s, 6, Y Kagayama (Suzuki) +9.223s, 7, R Xaus (Ducati) +10.164s, 8, M Biaggi (Ducati) +10.614s, 9, R Laconi (Kawasaki) +17.234s, 10, F Nieto (Suzuki) +18.100s, 11, G Lavilla (Vent Axia VK Honda) +18.288s.
2008 World Superbike Championship Standings after Round 3
1, Troy Bayliss (AUS) 128pts
2, Fonsi Nieto (ESP) 80pts
3, Troy Corser (AUS) 72pts
=, Carlos Checa (ESP) 72pts
5, Ruben Xaus (ESP) 68pts
6, Noriyuki Haga (JPN) 47pts
7, Max Biaggi (ITA) 44pts
8, Lorenzo Lanzi (ITA) 42pts
9, Max Neukirchner (GER) 39pts
10, Michel Fabrizio (ITA) 37pts
11, Gregorio Lavilla (ESP) 32pts
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