2008 – The last race weekend was held at the new venue of Portimao, in Algarve, Portugal, and it was pure Bayliss celebration as the Australian rider swept the board, taking a wet Superpole by almost 2.5 seconds over wild card Cal Crutchlow and pulling away in both races at a pace that in the early stages reached one second per lap at times.
Given Bayliss’ superiority, the show was behind him and started at the first lap of the first race, when Fabrizio tried to overtake Biaggi, fell, and collected his countryman. A little fight ensued and continued, verbally, in the paddock.
A couple of newcomers, Cal Crutchlow and Jonathan Rea, were able to lead the group of Bayliss’ pursuers in the early stages, which also comprised Xaus, Corser, Leon Haslam, Checa and Haga. The changes of positions were countless and things started to settle down only after ten laps, when tyres started to tell: before the race the riders were unsure about which tyre to use, given the frequent presence of the rain during the weekend and many choices were only made on the starting grid. At this point of the race the riders which had chosen the softer compound fell back and the others were able to keep a reasonable pace.
In the second part of the race the ones left in contention for second place were Haga, Corser and Checa, with Haga keeping up despite his softer tyre. The defining moment of the fight for second was the sixteenth lap, when Checa passed Corser and attacked Haga soon afterwards. The spaniard went wide and lost the position again, but after a couple of corners it was Haga’s turn to end up wide and Checa took second. At the beginning of the following lap Corser passed Haga and now it was clear that the Japanese had a mechanical problem and retired after a couple of laps. The order remained unchanged and Checa finished second in front of Corser.
The start of the second race was not so straightforward as the first one as Biaggi and Bayliss touched at the first corner, Bayliss losing some positions. It was clear though that the Australian had the same irresistible pace of race one and by the end of the lap he had already recovered all the lost ground and rocketed past Xaus, who was leading, down the main straight, setting off on his own.
Xaus and Haga were left battling for second, but after four laps Haga had to serve a ride through penalty for jump start and fell out of contention. The order was then Bayliss, Corser, Rea and Michel Fabrizio, which recovered from tenth after a poor start.
When Haga pulled into the pits, Corser made a move on Xaus, but ended up wide at the first corner. Rea was quick to snatch third, but after a couple of turns Fabrizio passed him and set after Xaus, while behind them Corser was sucked into a group composed of seven riders fighting for fifth.
Xaus and Fabrizio fought for the following two laps, swapping places several times until Xaus highsided his Ducati in one of the spectacular downhill turns of the Algarve circuit, slowing down Checa, who was right on his tail. This left Fabrizio with a good margin and gave third to Max Neukirchner. The podium places remained unchanged up to two laps to the end, when Haslam was able to take third from Neukirchner and claimed is second Superbike podium after a wait of four years.
2009 – One of the closest championship battles came all the way to the last weekend in Portimao and if Spies had to win both races, Haga had to win at least one. If he was second twice he would have had the same points of Spies, but he would have lost the title for an inferior number of wins.
Things looked bleak for Haga right in the middle of the qualifying session, when he failed to reach the final session and had to start only tenth. The fact that his team-mate Fabrizio was third and the private Ducati of Shane Byrne was second, merely added to his frustration.
On pole, for a record of eleven times in a season, was Ben Spies, with a time which left everyone else behind by at least half of a second.
Spies rocketed away at the start and was clear of everyone else at the first corner, with Biaggi in second and Byrne in third, soon passed by Rea. Haga was up to seventh on the opening lap, while Spies opened up a huge gap to Biaggi, and kept a high pace in order to be clear of any possible fight, winning the race alone.
The turning point of the race and the championship was Haga falling on the seventh lap, when he was running fifth behind Byrne and Rea. The Japanese lost the rear on a downhill left hander, tried to make the corner and slid off the track, virtually putting an end to his hopes of finally winning the title. Going into race two, Spies had only to finish sixth to claim the title.
The finishing order of the first race, with Rea claiming second in the last stages, Biaggi third with a sore arm after a fall on saturday, Byrne fourth and Fabrizio fifth, but fourteen seconds adrift, helped Spies on doing the math for the second race, while Haga was in tears in his garage: for the third time he was going to lose the title. This time squandering an advantage of 88 points he had after South Africa, the largest ball-drop ever in the championship history.
In the second race Byrne took the lead from Spies at the first corner, while Biaggi followed, soon passed by Rea. The couple continued to fight for third during the following lap, while Spies did nothing to attack a slower Byrne.
Byrne was holding everyone up: the leading group was so close that on the third lap Rea tried to pass Spies at the first corner, but in turn he was nearly passed by Biaggi. Further on the same lap Rea was able to take second from Spies, while Haga claimed fifth from Haslam.
Spies let his rivals by one by one, falling to sixth by the ninth lap. At this stage Byrne, Rea and Fabrizio were fighting for the lead, while Biaggi was alone in fourth, making several mistakes as his right arm continued to give him problems under braking. Fifth was Haga, with Spies trundling around behind him with less than perfect race lines.
Approaching mid-race Byrne’s pace began to fade due to tyre wear so Rea and Fabrizio were left to fight for the win. The Italian had the best of Jonathan after a fierce fight and on the last lap he was able to snatch the front at the first corner; it was not over, as Rea tried to pass Fabrizio, but went wide and allowed Haga to take second completing a Ducati one-two. Third was Rea, Byrne fourth and Spies fifth, as the American passed Biaggi six laps to the end.
Spies was champion in his rookie season, while Haga for the third time lost the title in the final stages.
• Max Biaggi managed to climb on the podium only once out of four starts, in race one in 2009 (third);
• in both races run here Shane Byrne finished fourth;
• the best result for Carlos Checa is a second place in his first race run here in 2008;
• also for Troy Corser the best result came in the first race of 2008: third;
• Michel Fabrizio is the only active rider who has won in Portimao. The Italian won in race two last year, while in 2008 both races went to Troy Bayliss and the first one of 2009 to Ben Spies. Michel posted the fastest lap in both 2009 races and is the rider which scored the highest amount of points in Portimao: 56;
• Noriyuki Haga only climbed on the podium once last year in race two (second);
• Leon Haslam was third in the second 2008 race, while in 2009 he retired twice;
• Vittorio Iannuzzo has never seen the chequered flag in Portimao: four participations and four retirements;
• Andrew Pitt was second in the 2008 Supersport race;
• Jonathan Rea is the only one of the current riders to get on the podium in both last year’s races, in second and third. He is also the only one to have started from the front row both in 2008 and 2009;
• the best result for Jakub Smrz came in the second race of 2009: eighth;
• Makoto Tamada was in the points only once, even if he is the only one among the current riders to have always finished the races run in Portimao. His best result was a twelfth in race one last year;
• Ruben Xaus retired in both the second races, in 2008 and 2009, his best result was an eighth place in race one last year.
PORTIMAO RACE NOTES
• Aprilia climbed on the podium only once with a third from Biaggi last year in race one;
• the best result for BMW was an eighth scored by Xaus in race one in 2009;
• Ducati won three races out of four in Portimao, missing the podium only last year in race one when the winner was Ben Spies (Yamaha);
• Honda is the only manufacturer to have always placed a bike on the podium in the four races run here;
• the best result for Kawasaki is a tenth place, scored in both 2008 races and in 2009, race one;
• Suzuki never climbed on the podium in Portimao and last year in race one none of the Suzukis present made it to the chequered flag;
• Yamaha won last year in race one and was able to climb on the podium only in another occasion, with a third by Corser in race one, 2008;
• the pole position in both editions was posted by the rider crowned champion at the end of the season.
MILESTONES IN PORTUGAL
(Estoril 1988 and 1993, Portimao 2008 and 2009)
• 1988: maiden pole and win for Stèphane Mertens, maiden fastest lap for Raymond Roche;
• 1993: maiden fastest lap for Simon Crafar;
• 2008: both Cal Crutchlow and Jonathan Rea recorded their maiden start from the front row. Crutchlow was at his second Superbike race, Rea at his maiden one.
SUPERSPORT FLASH NOTES
• in both editions the polesitter won the race;
• Honda won both races and was on the podium five times out of six slots available. The only rider on the podium with a bike different from Honda was Garry McCoy last year: third with the Triumph;
• the only rider able to score podium finishes in both edition was Kenan Sofuoglu, winner of the 2008 edition and second in 2009. Sofuoglu is also the only one who started from the front row twice.
SUPERSTOCK FLASH NOTES
• in the Superstock 1000 championship Ducati won both races, while in the Superstock 600 championship Yamaha won twice;
• like in Supersport, also in Superstock 600 Yamaha monopolized the podium with five placements out of six available. The only non-Yamaha rider on the podium was Gino Rea with the Honda in last year’s edition.
After the first round of the championship delivered thrills and excitement all the way at Phillip Island last month the eyes of the world will be focused on Portimao this coming weekend, as WSBK reconvenes at another highly rated and very popular venue.
The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve is a remarkably feat of modern engineering and design, with the undulating track layout and circuit facilities both coming in for high praise. The track was completed in time for the WSBK weekend in 2008, making this the third competitive visit to the 4.592 km circuit for some of the riders and teams. An official test in January of this year saw virtually all Superbike and Supersport World Championship teams set laps in changeable conditions, meaning the one universal wish from a strong 2010 entry is for sunshine on the Algarve coast for the next few days.
ALL TO PLAY FOR AND ALL IN PLAY: A total of 17 regular SBK riders have already scored points of some kind in 2010, and all of the seven competing manufacturers – Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha – have also scored points in the Manufacturers’ Championship at the first attempt. Leading the Riders’ Championship now is Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) who won the first race in Australia, and in doing so took his first WSB win, in his first full factory ride. He is followed in the early rankings by Michael Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) and PI second race winner, privateer Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati). As events in Australia showed very clearly, there will be any number of official or supported private teams who should be capable of podium finishes at some stage in 2010. The combination of experience and relative youth, and the closely regulated technical rules mean that opportunities will be available for all. This coming weekend should be no exception.
PACK OF ACES: The line-up of riders at Portimao features no fewer than 15 who have won at least one SBK race in their careers, plus two former champions in this category, and four other riders with a major world title to their name. Joining the fray for the first time in 2010 will be Makoto Tamada, riding as a stand-in for the injured Roland Resch in the Reitwagen BMW Team, teaming-up with Andrew Pitt for this weekend only. If we look to last year as a guide to form in 2010, Fabrizio won the second race in Portugal, while still active SBK riders Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) all scored podium finishes on the weekend.
An even better gauge of how this weekend should turn out is possibly the results of the official test at Portimao, between 22 and 24 January this year. Rea topped the rankings then, followed by Haslam, Shane Byrne (Althea Ducati), Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda Team), Fabrizio and James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda team).
ON THE UP: BMW Motorrad Motorsport riders Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus will be out for an overall improvement on their PI results, with Xaus in particular keen to turn around his recent fortunes, having not started either race in Australia. Joining Biaggi in Portugal is Leon Camier, the least experienced of the seven British riders in WSB, but a British-based French rider has already made a real mark in his rookie season. Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare) finished a close fourth in one race last time out, sixth in the other, and is therefore an impressive fifth overall.
FIGHT FOR FITNESS AND FORM: Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team) suffered some knee tissue injuries in a crash at Phillip Island but the tough Aussie is determined to ride in Portugal, alongside his team-mate Tom Sykes. Max Neukirchner (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) is expecting better results for his new team this weekend, while Pedercini Kawasaki duo Matteo Baiocco and Roger Lee Hayden are determined to move into points scoring places this time out, as is Vittorio Iannuzzo (SCI Honda Garvie Image). Promising opening weekends for Jakub Smrz (PATA B&G Ducati) and Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Ducati) in Australia didn’t bear too much fruit so each will be ready for bigger helpings now. Joining the championship at this round is Luca Scassa, on his Supersonic Racing Team Ducati.
Points (after 1 of 13 rounds): 1. Haslam 45; 2. Fabrizio 36; 3. Checa 34; 4. Haga 27; 5. Guintoli 23; 6. Rea 23; 7. Biaggi 19; 8. Corser 16; 9. Camier 10; 10. Lanzi 9. Manufacturers: 1. Ducati 45; 2. Suzuki 45; 3. Honda 23; 4. Aprilia 19; 5. BMW 16; 6. Yamaha 7; 7. Kawasaki 3
SUPERSPORT: Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) dominated the first race of 2010 at Phillip Island and the last race of 2009 Honda at Portimao, and he is out to repeat the trick at his team’s home circuit this weekend. His toughest opponents will surely be Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com) but in a field with real quality in its upper echelons, riders like Fabien Foret (Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki), Davide Salom (ParkingGO BE-1 Triumph), Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki Motocard.com) and many others will have a real chance of top five places. Arguably the rider most keen to shine is local competitor Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda) who wants to put in a career best finish in front of his local fans. Matthieu Lagrive (ParkinGO Triumph BE1) joins the championship for this round, alongside regular rider Chaz Davies.
Points (after 1 of 13 rounds): 1. Laverty 25; 2. Lascorz 20; 3. Sofuoglu 16: 4. Salom 13; 5. Foret 11; 6. Roccoli 10; 7. Harms 9; 8. DiSalvo 8; 9. Praia 7; 10. Rea 6. Manufacturers: 1. Honda 25; 2. Kawasaki 20; 3. Triumph 13.
SUPERSTOCK 1000: The Superstock classes kick off at this the first European race of the 2010 season, with the Superstock 1000 category featuring a number of possible champions and a vast number of competing manufacturers. Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Race Junior), Davide Giugliano (Team 06 Suzuki), Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) and others are well established riders in this competitive class, but with some top riders moving up from 600 Superstock racing, and a field of over 30 riders in total, Superstock at Portimao is set to be fight all the way.
SUPERSTOCK 600: A mass exodus of the top riders in 2009 means that the European Superstock 600 class is completely wide open in 2010, for riders of Honda, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha machinery. Nine countries will be represented by at least one rider in this class where the machines on show most resemble the streetbikes they are based on. A new era of Superstock 600 is beginning and new stars are about to be born.
Having already tested at Portimao earlier this year in often wet and wintry conditions, the Ducati Xerox squad now returns to the Algarve once more, for what they hope will prove to be a winning race weekend for both championship contenders Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio.
Michel Fabrizio is currently second in the championship, and won a race at Portimao last year. “We made a good start to the championship a few weeks ago at Phillip Island and took some good points. It’s a pity I lost out on the Race 1 win but the racing was great fun; it sure was a close finish! I’m in second position in the standings which isn’t bad and now we move to Portimao, another track that I really enjoy racing, and I’ll be looking for race wins; I need to consolidate the strong start that we’ve made because this year will inevitably a very long and hard-fought competition.”
For Noriyuki Haga memories of losing the championship at the final round of the year at Portimao in 2009 will be the first hurdle to overcome as practice starts on Friday in Portugal. But he also knows that only a warm-up injury held him back at Phillip island in round one this year, and Portimao will hopefully be more of a level playing field. “I had a few problems during the races at Phillip Island as I had crashed that morning in warm-up, hurting my right arm and lower back. The injuries made it hard for me to keep pace with Michel, Checa and Haslam and so I was fairly happy with my results and the points gained. Now I’m feeling a lot better and am looking ahead to the coming weekend – I haven’t had the best luck at the track over the last two years, so it’s not my favourite but we hope to score two good results.”
