Vallelunga WSB: Haga takes the double win in Italy

Japanese rider Noriyuki Haga won the second race at Vallelunga this afternoon, giving him the double at the Italian circuit. Troy Bayliss looked set to take 2nd place and the world championship in the process, but lost the front on the last lap.

Bayliss got a good start and got the hole shot into the first bend, but as the pack entered turn 1 a massive crash saw Biaggi and Sofuoglu out of the race very early.

Bayliss took the lead, closely followed by Haga and Corser. Bayliss and Corser were flying from the start, both setting lap records.

With 20 laps still to go Haga leaned right onto Bayliss and passed him up the inside to lead briefly before Bayliss took first place straight back. Meanwhile Corser was just behind in third setting a new lap record once again.

Less than a lap later Haga managed to get past Bayliss and make it stick, then he gradually started to pull away from the two Aussies, while they continued to fight over the second spot.

With 13 laps to go, Haga seemed to have dropped off the pace allowing Bayliss to close the gap on him.

Bayliss didn’t waste any time and overtook Haga deep into the inside of a corner. They ended up side by side on the exit, leaning into each other before Haga eventually had to back down and let Bayliss take the lead.

With 9 laps to go, Bayliss made a mistake, gifting Haga the lead once again. Bayliss managed to get it back on the brakes into a corner soon after, but Haga was better placed to get on the power out of the turn and passed Bayliss on the exit.

Haga and Bayliss continued to battle it out, giving Troy Corser in third the chance he needed to catch up.

The race looked set to finish like that, but a dramatic final lap saw Bayliss lose the front just four corners from the chequered flag, losing his chance to wrap up the championship early in the process.

Bayliss seemed to be having trouble with that corner, since he had a bit of a moment there earlier but managed to save it.

With Bayliss out of the way Fabrizio put in a late surge to pass Corser and claim second on the podium behind Haga.

1 41 Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 39’10.265 (151,091 kph)
2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 F08 1.507
3 11 Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 2.268
4 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 11.813
5 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 17.922
6 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R1000 18.281
7 34 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 19.368
8 38 Nakatomi S. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 19.717
9 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 23.868
10 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 24.198
11 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098 RS 08 25.426
12 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 1098 RS 08 28.384
13 23 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 30.436
14 194 Gimbert S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF-R1 36.490
15 9 Walker C. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 42.903
16 21 Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 1098 F08 43.758
17 88 Aoyama S. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 44.993
18 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08 48.469
19 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-10R 58.868
20 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF-R1 1’18.547
21 122 Smrz M. (CZE) Honda CBR1000RR 1’42.272
22 50 Lynn M. (USA) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 86 Badovini A. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R
RET 13 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX-10R
RET 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 73 Zaiser C. (AUT) Yamaha YZF-R1
RET 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Ducati 1098 RS 08