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HASLAM INCREASES WSBK LEAD
WITH VALENCIA VICTORY
Team Suzuki Press Office - April 11
Team
Suzuki Alstare rider Leon Haslam stormed his way to victory in the
first World Superbike Championship race at Valencia today and then
followed it up with a hard-fought-for fourth in the second which
increased his series lead to 18 points after three rounds.
But
for braking problems in race two, Haslam would have been on course for
another podium and an even bigger Championship lead.
In race
one, team-mate Sylvain Guintoli was forced to take to the run-off area
at the end of the back straight in order to avoid Leon Camier's crash
and lost several places as he regained the track. In the end, he
finished ninth. In the second race - run in two parts, because of a
crash and subsequent red flag - Guintoli improved his position to finish
sixth.
Behind Haslam in race one was Max Biaggi (Aprilia) James
Toseland (Yamaha), with Troy Corser (BMW) fourth. The second race was
won by Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) with Carlos Checa (Ducati) second and
Biaggi third.
Leon Haslam - Race 1: 1st, Race
2: 4th:
"I made a reasonable start and was fourth at the end of
the lap one and then just worked my way up to first by lap five. Once I
was in the lead, I realised that the pace was not great and it all felt
pretty easy for me. I expected that I would come under attack, but my
Pit board signals showed that my lead was increasing! I kept a good pace
and felt comfortable enough to ease the pace at the end.
"We
made some small changes to the bike for race two - because of the hotter
conditions - and managed to pass about five riders quite quickly
despite not making a very good start. Then the race was stopped and we
had to start again. We put a bit more preload on the front, but I began
having brake problems before too long. The lever kept coming all the way
back to the bar and that meant I couldn't be close to other riders and
then pull out and pass them. I didn't feel confident braking and after
three or four laps I was praying that the race would come to an end or
that somebody in front would stop and I would get another podium. I am
happy to be leading the series; delighted that I have increased the
lead; and really looking forward to Assen - a circuit where I think our
bike will go really well."
Sylvain Guintoli -
Race 1: 9th, Race 2: 6th:
"I made a good start in race one and
everything was going according to plan until Camier crashed right in
front of me! I had to take to the run-off area to avoid hitting him or
the bike and then had to do a bit of a three-point turn to get back on
the track and that cost me time and places. I had fallen to 14th - from
sixth - but had some good battles before finally finishing ninth.
"We
didn't make any changes to the bike for race two, but the hotter
temperature meant that the tyres didn't work as well as they had done in
race one and I had many slides. Sixth was not so bad, but I'm not happy
because I think we can do better. I feel better here than I did in
Portimao because I have got my rhythm back. Now we just have to keep on
progressing and improving and, with a little bit of luck, the results
will come."
Valencia WSBK Results:
Race
1: 1 Leon Haslam (GBR-Suzuki Alstare), 2
Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia), 3 Toseland (GBR-Yamaha), 4 Corser (AUS-BMW), 5
Haga (JPN-Ducati), 6 Rea (GBR-Honda). 9 Sylvain Guintoli
(FRA-Suzuki Alstare).
Race 2: 1 Haga, 2
Checa (ESP-Ducati), 3 Biaggi, 4 Leon Haslam (GBR-Suzuki
Alstare), 5 Rea, 6 Sylvain Guintoli (FRA-Suzuki
Alstare).
Championship Points (after 3
rounds): 1 Leon Haslam (GBR-Suzuki Alstare) 123, 2
Biaggiii 89, 3 Checa 60, 4 Haga 54, 5 Rea 49, 6 Fabrizio. 9
Sylvain Guintoli (FRA-Suzuki Alstare) 40.
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