Spies does the double...but Haga leads the title chase.

By Burning Rubber on Mar 14, 09 01:23 PM

By Zoe Burn

BEN Spies took another runaway victory in Race Two at Losail.

The Yamaha pilot 'did a Bayliss' and steamed off into the lead just six laps in, gapping the opposition to ride to an easy win.

In what was almost a carbon copy of this morning's first race, the American rookie never looked under pressure, and crossed the line once again ahead of Noriyuki Haga and Max Biaggi in second and third spots respectively. Haga, however, still leads the championship

At the green light it was the Aprilia of Biaggi which led into the first corner, but Haga was soon past.

The Japanese hotshot kept his Xerox Ducati at the front until Lap Six, when Spies - who had already despatched Biaggi down to third - took the lead and started to clear off.

The order remained the same until the start of the final lap, when Biaggi passed him on the straight but Haga was back underneath him at Turn 10, and kept the momentum home and was second over the line.

Spies by now, was already home and on his celebratory cool-down lap.

"It was a hard race, not as hard as the first one for me, but still not easy," said a relaxed Spies. "Haga was so strong at the start, he was hard to pass.

"When I did get by, I just had to put my head down and try to open and try to gap him. Once I'd found a decent lead I was able to concentrate much more on my lines.

"Haga is very strong, and he's still leading the championship - it seems I go out an win but he keeps coming in second and racking up the points!"

Haga, who admitted he was tired after the race, is pleased to be still sitting at of the top of the title chase. "I enjoyed the race, but it was hard. Ben was so fast when he got by me, I just couldn't catch him.

"But I'm still leading the championship, so I'm very happy about that. Ben is 10 years younger than me - that's the only reason he is winning!" he joked.

Biaggi remained upbeat at Aprilia's progress. "We are so much improved, I have a really good feeling about the season ahead.

"For sure, we have a long way still to go and more improvements we need to make to the bike, but it is all looking good and I'm very confident."

This time, it was Yamaha's Tom Sykes who was first Brit home. Although Shane 'Shakey' Byrne had made a great start, he slowly slipped backwards through the field to end up 12th.

Jonathan Rea crossed the line eight, Leon Haslam 11th and poor old Tommy Hill was forced to retire with technical problems on Lap Seven.

Full results:

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 36'02.126 (161,241 kph)
2 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1.274
3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1.622
4 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1.845
5 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 5.117
6 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 9.512
7 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 9.514
8 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 12.621
9 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 13.842
10 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 13.884
11 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 13.888
12 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 14.913
13 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 15.762
14 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 15.920
15 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 19.565
16 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 21.759
17 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 28.523
18 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 40.499
19 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 43.761
20 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 44.669
21 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 48.955
22 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R
RET 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R