Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) stormed to a superb double win at the Nürburgring in Germany today, winning back-to-back 20-lap races to re-ignite his championship challenge. He also takes away the new lap record, thanks to a blistering 1'56.892, set on lap 11 of race two.
His team-mate Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) was unlucky not to score a podium in race one but was battling for the outright win with Haga in an unbelievable race two, before the threatening rain fell and the race was stopped for reasons of safety. Many fans held their breath for most of race as Hager and Corser swapped places repeatedly with inches to spare between their bikes. By midway they were riding their own race, locked into a Yamaha duel for the chequered flag.
The first race was delayed for 20 minutes because of a late fall of rain but it was declared dry and indeed the sun came out in force as the race started.
In the first race Haga took the win after an intense battle at the front throughout, finally overcoming Troy Bayliss after pressurising the Australian rider into a mistake on lap 19 Of 20. Corser was a close fourth making it a successful first outing for the official Yamaha team.
Race two was halted early by a light fall of rain on lap 15, and with 14 tours completed the race result was called from that lap, giving the win to Haga even though Corser was in the lead when the race was stopped.
Each Yamaha Motor Italia rider delivered awesome entertainment to the 41,000 weekend crowd, particularly in a tough and fully competitive race two, and each was rewarded with strong points scores as a result. Haga is now fourth overall, on 172 points, with Corser only just behind, on 154 at the midpoint of the 14-round season.
Noriyuki Haga (1st and 1st - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"During the race the collarbone was no problem, just some muscle pain. I had a great fight with my team-mate Troy in the second race, it was very exciting, fun and fair, I really enjoyed it.
I want to thank Dr Ting for the operation on my collarbone, a big thank you to all the fans and congratulations to Troy for a great race. I'm so happy for the win, and it's fantastic to go forward to Misano having closed the championship gap a bit. Time to celebrate!"
Troy Corser (4th and 2nd- Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"With the weather conditions the way they were it was completely dry at the top, and it was raining down at the bottom for the last two laps before I put my hand up, it was getting wetter and wetter. Although I wanted to win the race I just wanted to stay on the bike as well.
Thanks to the boys on the team, and thanks to Nori there as well, I had an amazing race with him, fantastic riding. We're getting the bike better and better, hopefully we can get some more great results before the end of the year."
Massimo Meregalli (Team Manager, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team)
"It's almost impossible to do better. We saw that even on Friday we could get good results from both riders and after yesterday I was sure the podium was possible for both riders.
We got a double win from Nori and first and second in race two; a fantastic achievement for the whole team. I am lost for words about Nori, he is even better than before and Troy is really back to his very best. Thanks to all the team because they did a really good job here."
Circuit Length: 4556
2008 WSB Germany - Nürburgring 15/06/2008 Race 1
1 Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN 39'19.427
2 Troy Bayliss Ducati AUS 0'2.025
3 Max Neukirchner Suzuki GER 0'2.792
4 Troy Corser Yamaha AUS 0'5.458
5 Carlos Checa Honda ESP 0'10.225
6 Ruben Xaus Ducati ESP 0'10.462
7 Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 0'17.018
8 Fonsi Nieto Suzuki ESP 0'20.520
9 Makoto Tamada Kawasaki JPN 0'21.162
10 Karl Muggeridge Honda AUS 0'22.650
11 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 0'22.845
12 Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda JPN 0'25.555
13 Max Biaggi Ducati ITA 0'25.879
14 Regis Laconi Kawasaki FRA 0'26.288
15 Sebastien Gimbert Yamaha FRA 0'32.824
18 Shinichi Nakatomi Yamaha JPN 0'52.232
Race 2
1 Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN 27'26.594
2 Troy Corser Yamaha AUS 0'0.150
3 Max Neukirchner Suzuki GER 0'5.316
4 Troy Bayliss Ducati AUS 0'7.651
5 Carlos Checa Honda ESP 0'7.951
6 Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 0'9.027
7 Max Biaggi Ducati ITA 0'9.420
8 Ruben Xaus Ducati ESP 0'9.916
9 Fonsi Nieto Suzuki ESP 0'12.862
10 Regis Laconi Kawasaki FRA 0'13.559
11 Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda JPN 0'13.960
12 Karl Muggeridge Honda AUS 0'16.172
13 Makoto Tamada Kawasaki JPN 0'17.946
14 Gregorio Lavilla Honda ESP 0'22.815
15 David Checa Yamaha ESP 0'23.758
16 Sebastien Gimbert Yamaha FRA 0'24.127
18 Shinichi Nakatomi Yamaha JPN 0'25.356
Best Lap Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN 1'56.892
Rider Standings 15/06/2008
1. Troy Bayliss Ducati AUS 227
2. Carlos Checa Honda ESP 188
3. Max Neukirchner Suzuki GER 176
4. Noriyuki Haga Yamaha JPN 172
5. Troy Corser Yamaha AUS 154
6. Fonsi Nieto Suzuki ESP 141
7. Ruben Xaus Ducati ESP 110
8. Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 106
9. Max Biaggi Ducati ITA 97
10. Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda JPN 89
11. Yukio Kagayama Suzuki JPN 73
12. Gregorio Lavilla Honda ESP 65
13. Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati ITA 60
14. Karl Muggeridge Honda AUS 59
15. Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 56
20. Shinichi Nakatomi Yamaha JPN 16
23. Sebastien Gimbert Yamaha FRA 7
24. David Checa Yamaha ESP 6
Manufacturer Standings 15/06/2008
1. Ducati 282
2. Yamaha 251
3. Suzuki 223
4. Honda 207
5. Kawasaki 64
- Yamaha Racing, Amsterdam -
photos on automobilsport.com under PHOTOS - MOTOSPORT
