Spies wins Race One at Donington

By Burning Rubber on Jun 28, 09 01:04 PM

Spies - wsb-donington - small.jpg BEN Spies led from lights to flag to take the win in Race One at Donington Park.

And after a close battle at the front, Aprilia's Max Biaggi overcame an engine cut-out in the last lap to still cross the line in second place.

Championship leader, Noriyuki Haga was third, ahead of the dicing duo of Brits Leon Haslam and Shane Byrne, who finished fourth and fifth respectively.

At the green light, it looked like Biaggi had grabbed the holeshot, but it was the distinctive Yamaha of Spies which led into the first corner, Redgate, with Biaggi close behind, and Haga third.

And the trio were to keep these positions all the way to the chequered flag, in a race which was unusually tame and uneventful.

Byrne's Sterilgarda Ducati had been running fourth for most of the early part of the race, but Haslam - who had already made up a few spots on his Stiggy Motorsport Honda - made the pass as the pair crossed the line into the start of Lap 17.

The other Brits didn't fai quite so well, with Tom Sykes crashing his Yamaha on Lap Eight and wildcard James Ellison - who had been running in a solid 10th position - crashed his Airwaves Yamaha on Lap 14.

Both Spies and Biaggi complimented each other's riding after the race. Spies said: "He rode a good one, we didn't have anything left so if he had made a move on the last lap, I'm unsure if I could've kept him behind. Spies Podium Small WSB Donington.jpg

"It was a good race, he was there all of the time and I hope he was sliding around as much as I was back there!

"Now we've just got to put another one together later on, and see what we can do. I guess it will depend on what the weather is going to do, but we'll see."

Roman Emperor Biaggi was naturally relieved to cross the line. "First I must congratulate Ben on a fantastic race. He was pushing hard and I was able to follow him. I did my best, we were both pushing hard.

"In the last two laps I was getting a bit closer and I thought I may have a chance, but then I tapped some kerbs I think, and then the engine seemed to stop. I tried to bring it back and it managed to get going again so I was able to finish the race. I was very relieved!"

World Superbike Race One Result:

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 34'57.230 (158,831 kph)
2 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 7.156
3 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 10.968
4 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 18.843
5 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 19.125
6 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 21.286
7 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 23.644
8 121 Hopkins J. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR 32.849
9 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 32.904
10 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 33.192
11 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 34.535
12 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 35.093
13 22 Camier L. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 35.441
14 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 39.034
15 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 41.067
16 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR1000RR 46.452
17 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 47.924
18 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 48.246
19 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 50.932
20 117 Andrews S. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 55.032
21 2 Hacking J. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 55.216
22 53 Polita A. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'02.758
23 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'02.977
24 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R1 1'12.255
25 79 Young B. (USA) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'12.531
RET 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR
RET 27 Ellison J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1
RET 88 Resch R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9
RET 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1
RET 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Ducati 1098R
RET 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR