World Superbike: Supersonic Spies leaps into the championship lead
The Nurburgring GP circuit was witness to an incredible performance from Yamaha World Superbike rider Ben Spies today as he attacked the track to take the championship lead from rival Haga. Race one started well for the American but was almost immediately red flagged for a crash between Tamada, Hopkins and Parkes. The restart saw Spies move up into third behind Rea and Haga until the third lap where he took Rea on the brakes to move into second position.
Rea briefly retook the position but held it for mere seconds before relinquishing again to the American missile. Spies then set about reeling in Haga, taking nearly half a second a lap off the Ducati rider’s lead until he had closed it to 0.3 seconds by lap 10. As they entered the chicane at the end of the lap, he pulled a swift move and took the lead, which he held to the line, throwing in an extra turn of speed at the end to increase his lead.
Race two saw a less than perfect start with Spies dropping to sixth amid a pack of riders. He fought through the pack to fourth, and gradually worked through to third behind Rea and Haga. Rea and Haga came together going into the first corner of lap four, taking Haga out of the race and leaving Ben to tuck in behind Rea to the finish line, taking second spot on the podium.
Ben Spies
Tom Sykes got a great start off the line in race one, moving from 11th position up to seventh at the first corner before the restart. As the race restarted he got off the line in tenth, chasing down Nieto who he passed on lap six. He worked hard to close the gap on Corser and Fabrizio in front but had to settle for ninth across the line at the end. Race two saw him get off the line to ninth again, then moving up to eighth by lap two, following team-mate Spies. He continued to charge and on lap 14 took Fabrizio on the brakes going into the first corner of the circuit to take seventh. He dropped one place to eighth but held on ahead of Fabrizio to keep his position over the line.
Ben Spies heads to Imola in two weeks time having taken the lead in the World Superbike Championship with an 18 point advantage over demoted Haga with six races remaining. Team mate Tom Sykes leaves Germany sitting in eighth place in the standings just 12 points behind seventh position rider Carlos Checa.
Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike Team (1st, 2nd)
“the first race was tough, Rea and I battled a bit for the first couple of laps and Nori got away so I had to reel him back in, using a lot of my tyre to do that. When I got to him I knew he was really strong in the first few corners so I slowed the pace a bit and controlled him through there. With three laps to go we pulled the pin and got back down to some fast laps. The second race was a tough one, I didn’t get a great start and had to spend some time working through the pack, when I eventually got up to Rea he had a great pace on so I tucked in and was waiting for him to make a mistake, which unfortunately he didn’t! I used up a lot of my tyres fighting through the pack and was starting to slide around a bit at the end so tucked in and took the points. It’s fantastic to be leading the championship, it’s what we came here to do, so we’re looking forward to getting to Imola and seeing if we can build on this. The team have been brilliant, and have worked really hard all weekend.”
Source: http://www.yamaha-motor.co....
issued: Tuesday, September 8, 2009
updated: Tuesday, September 8, 2009
More recent news:
- A Tour of Yamaha's European Racing Headquarters
- Honda to downsize Spanish factory
- Stratton race ace back on the track at the age of 63
- Honda plans to launch 110-cc motorcycle
- BijtellingYoungtimer update
- Laatste nieuws bijtelling Youngtimers
- Freddie Spencer signed his world famous HONDA RS750D racer at Stafford in the UK
- For a Dutch Audience: Tweede Kamer VOOR reparatie bijtelling youngtimers
- Honda Motorcycle Racing Legends
- Honda Announces VFR1200F/VFR1200F Dual Clutch Transmission
More yamaha news:
A Tour of Yamaha's European Racing Headquarters
2010 Rossi Replica R1 Yamaha
2010 Yamaha YZ450F Preview
World Superbike: Supersonic Spies leaps into the championship lead
Yamaha FZ6 concept
The 2010 VMax Is Here
Yamaha WR250X review
Yamaha FZ16 Review
Yamaha Released Rossi Replica Yamaha YZF-R125
Yamaha World Superbike Team unveils its 2009 Colours
Yamaha Motor May Post Operating Loss as Motorcycle Demand Drops
Yamaha says it is to recall 53,814 bikes
2009 Yamaha YZF-R1 First Ride
2009 Yamaha V-max impression
2009 Yamaha XJ6 Introduction
Yamaha FZ16 in India
2009 Yamaha Star VMAX presented
Yamaha Website Reveals Tokyo Motor Show Concept Bikes
First Look: Photos of Yamaha FC-Dii Fuel Cell Bike
First Look on 2008 Yamaha YZF-R125
Yamaha XS-V1 Sakura for Tokyo Motor Show
Yamaha EC-Dii - Fuel-Cell Bike
Yamaha BOBBY accesses the Internet
The new 2008 YZF-R6
2009 V-max
Yamaha adds pressure on Honda in Indonesian motorcycle market
Yamaha's $2,000 electric bike
2007 Yamaha YFZ450 SE review
Yamaha Papercraft models
Yamaha surpasses Honda in Indonesia motorcycle sales