Haga takes race one

Noriyuki Haga has taken the win in race one at Brands Hatch World Superbikes after an intense struggle with Regis Laconi and Frankie Chili.

Haga started the race as he meant to go on, taking the hole-shot away from pole-man Steve Martin.But his rivals didn’t make it and easy win for him with both Chili and Laconi taking the lead off him several times throughout the race.

Chili looked like he might win the race when he stormed in to the lead through Paddock hill bend on lap 18 but he was pushing too hard and highsided out just two corners later. This left the way clear for Haga and Laconi to battle it out for the top spot and almost guaranteed Martin’s third place.

Laconi moved in to the lead on lap 21 but it was the last lap that proved the most exciting with Haga taking back first place at Surtees only for Laconi to take it back at Sheene curve, but Haga pushed once more at Sterlings to take the lead for the final time, holding it right to the chequered flag.

Chris Vermeulen started out well with a fourth place off the start line and was challenging for a top three place, but he couldn’t keep up with the pace and eventually finished the race in fourth.

Troy Corser was haranguing Vermeulen throughout the race and looked as thought he might pass him towards the end of the race but the last lap saw him drop right back with a mechanical problem. He still managed to hold on to fifth place thanks to a significant gap of sixth placed James Ellison.

Ellison had a great race on the Jentin racing Yamaha R1 managing to get past the struggling Fila Ducati of James Toseland to finish the race just two seconds behind Corser.

Positions: Haga, Laconi, Martin, Vermeulen, Corser, Ellison, Toseland, Coxhell, Walker, Nannelli, Borciani, Bussei, Pedercini, Clementi, Bontempi, Nowland, Velini.

DNF: Fuertes, Haslam, Chili, Gimbert, McCoy, De Matteis, Sanchini, Mrkyvka, Praia.

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