Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) and Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) took a win apiece at Phillip Island in what was a sensational start to the 2010 WSBK season in Australia. In dry conditions, in front of 65,500 fans, the action was intense in each 22-lap race, with the leading three riders within 0.769 seconds of each other in race one and the leading four within 0.837 seconds in race two.
Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) won a thrilling race two at Phillip Island, by only 0.307 from Leon Haslam, who he passed on the final section of the track.
Third went to seasoned rider Michel Fabrizio, but a great ride from new SBK rider Sylvain Guintoli put him fourth on his Suzuki in only his fourth ever SBK event – 0.837 from a win. Noriyuki Haga was fifth, Jonathan Rea heading up a busy and exciting midfield battle in sixth.
1 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 34’16.428 (171,192 kph)
2 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 0.307
3 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 0.434
4 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 0.837
5 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 3.453
6 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 11.530
7 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 12.026
8 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 13.068
9 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 14.401
10 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 14.707
11 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 1000 F. 14.743
12 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 14.851
13 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 15.143
14 25 Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 30.947
15 88 Pitt A. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 41.855
16 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 48.844
17 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’06.866
18 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1’07.751
RET 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R
It took a look at the photo finish image to split Leon Haslam from his race long rival Michel Fabrizio, but by only 0.004 seconds the Alstare Suzuki rider was given the win.
Haslam added his first career win to his first ever pole position start, to take an early championship lead.
Fabrizio was originally given the win but after close inspection of the finish images, the victory was awarded to Haslam.
Noriyuki Haga took his Ducati to third, following the leading battle closely throughout.
Jonathan Rea, Max Biaggi, Sylvain Guintoli and Carlos Checa battled over fourth, with Jakub Smrz, Troy Corser and Lorenzo Lanzi completing the top ten.
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