WSBK Headlines

• Yamaha Sterilgarda confirms Marco Melandri for 2011 - The Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team has signed an agreement with Italian MotoGP rider Marco Melandri to join the World Superbike Championship for the 2011 race season. 28 year-old Melandri will replace current Yamaha Superbike rider Cal Crutchlow who stays within the Yamaha family, moving to MotoGP to replace Ben Spies on The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 M1 bike.

  
  Melandri is a former 250cc GP World Champion and has finished as high as 2nd in the MotoGP Championship with five MotoGP race victories to date in his career and a further 10 250ccGP victories.

  
  "I'm very happy with this new challenge, it's a big change and I want to fight for world superbike wins," said Marco Melandri. "It's nice to be back with Yamaha; I know many people there; I was very young when I rode with them before, now I'm much more mature. As the reigning 2009 champions The Yamaha Sterilgarda Team have proved to have a very competitive package and are one of the top teams in World Superbike. I realize Superbike is not easy and I know I have to work hard. I'm looking forward to feeling the adrenalin again and fighting for the championship."

  
  "Marco is a great signing for the World Superbike Team. He has massive experience at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing and is extremely motivated to have the opportunity to challenge for race wins again. Whilst it is sad to see Cal leave us to move on up in the Yamaha family we are excited to have a serious title contender such as Marco joining us," said Yamaha Motor Europe Racing Manager Laurens Klein Koerkamp.

• Nurburgring Supersport - Race (Revised) -

  1  50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 37'52.893 (154,592 kph) 
  2  54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 5.072 
  3  23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 15.890 
  4  99 Foret F. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 16.911 
  5   7 Davies C. (GBR) Triumph Daytona 675 28.380 
  6  25 Salom D. (ESP) Triumph Daytona 675 28.495 
  7  55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 28.578 
  8  51 Pirro M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 28.787 
  9  44 Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'02.199 
  10   9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'19.432 
  11 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1'24.011 
  12  21 Iddon C. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'30.504 
  13 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1'51.319 
  14  10 Toth I. (HUN) Honda CBR600RR  
  15  37 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R  
  16  14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Triumph Daytona 675  
  17  31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675  
  18  34 Quarmby R. (RSA) Honda CBR600RR  
  19   8 Chesaux B. (SUI) Honda CBR600RR  
  20  18 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR  
  EX   4 Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 0.058

• Rea and Haga share the wins at the Nurburgring -

  Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) each got back to winning ways this weekend in front of a 45,000 crowd at the Nurburgring, as Rea posted his fourth and Haga his second win of the 2010 championship campaign. It was a frustrating weekend for the two top riders in the World Superbike Championship, as they had to watch others take the glory, as Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) had his championship lead over Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) cut, despite Haslam suffering a dislocated thumb and knee injuries. Biaggi now leads the series by a slightly trimmed 58 points, with two full rounds to go.

  
  Rea's win and then a second place, combined with a luckless race two for Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) sees the Honda man in third overall, 64 points ahead of the Spanish rider. Rea also took a new lap record, 1'55.392, in race one. Cal Crutchlow is only seven points behind Checa, in fifth place, having scored a third and a fourth place in Germany. Haga's win sees him sixth, 15 points clear of James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda) who fell in race one and was only eighth in race two. Strong rides from Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare) put him eighth overall, ahead of injured rider Leon Camier and Michel Fabrizio.

  
  Race 1

  
  Jonathan Rea took an early lead in the re-started first race, and rode at full pace to lead Carlos Checa home and record his fourth win of the 2010 season. Third place went to Yamaha Sterilgarda rider Cal Crutchlow, ten seconds back on Rea. Championship leader Max Biaggi was fourth, and Kawasaki Racing Team rider Tom Sykes was a more than creditable fifth. Leon Haslam, one of the riders involved in the crash that caused the race to be stopped and then completely re-run, was sixth. Ruben Xaus was first BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider home in Germany, seventh.

  
  Jonathan Rea: "A great race and a great weekend for the team. Already on Friday we were right on the pace, we came out with a bike that was good, really pushed hard, I felt comfortable on it and turned it into a good result so I'm really proud of my team."

  
  Carlos Checa: "We had a good start and fought with Haga who then fell in front of me. Then I tried to follow Jonathan but he was very strong and nothing happened to the end. We did our best and are quite satisfied with the pace and the work we did this weekend."

  
  Cal Crutchlow: "Nice to be back up here. Tenth on the grid is not so good into the first corner but I did the best job I could for Yamaha Sterilgarda. I thought right through that third place on this track is incredible for our bike and it was going to be difficult."

  
  Race 2

  
  Noriyuki Haga, a race one faller, was an impressive winner of race two, the Japanese rider shining strongly in the German sunshine. He was an eventual 3.061 seconds ahead of Jonathan Rea. Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) rode through the pain barrier to go third, with Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda) ending up fourth. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) managed to keep Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare) behind him at the flag for fifth, in a tense 20-lap race for the championship's top men.

  
  Noriyuki Haga: "I'm very happy with this result and very sorry for the first race. When I had a crash, I wasn't getting information from the front tyre and for race 2 I made just a little modification for the front suspension and that was working much better. I was able to keep a high pace until the flag. Next round is Imola, our home track and I have much pressure but I hope to do my best."

  
  Jonathan Rea: "The pace was similar to race 1 but Nori was fantastic, he rode an unbelievable race. It's quite frustrating when you see someone ride away from you like that. A great job for my team this weekend, 45 points overall and I'm really very happy. I'm very consistent now but it's so frustrating when I see my mid-season form."

  
  Leon Haslam: "Race 1 was a bit frustrating, it was completely my fault when I high-sided and Troy had nowhere to go, so luckily the race was red-flagged. In the second race, I only had one bike but the boys did a great job and the Clinica did a fantastic job with my knee and my thumb so thanks to them. Getting on the podium is not exactly what I wanted but we'll take it this weekend. Anything can happen, there are four more races still to go so roll on Imola!"

• Nurburgring Superbike - Race 2 -

  1  41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 38'43.565 (159,18 kph) 
  2  65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 3.061 
  3  91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 8.060 
  4  35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 8.457 
  5   3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 9.392 
  6  50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 9.556 
  7  66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 16.819 
  8  52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 20.564 
  9 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 21.040 
  10  67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 21.168 
  11  96 Smrz J. (CZE) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 21.734 
  12  11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 22.746 
  13  57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 24.526 
  14  99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 28.218 
  15  76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 38.406 
  16  95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'08.039 
  17  15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'21.294 
  18  33 Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'21.362 
  19  84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'38.427 
  RET   5 Lowry I. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R  
  RET   7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R  
  

• Nurburgring ParkinGO European Series - Race -

  1 43 Perotti F. (ITA) Street Triple R 17'28.341 (141,124 kph)
  2 25 Salom T. (ESP) Street Triple R 6.260
  3 119 Heidger F. (GER) Street Triple R 7.137
  4 37 Schnieders D. (GER) Street Triple R 7.326
  5 5 Jelicic G. (GER) Street Triple R 26.024
  6 84 De Nardi S. (ITA) Street Triple R 32.256
  7 73 Rovelli P. (ITA) Street Triple R 51.452
  8 19 Nicastro C. (ITA) Street Triple R 1'00.337
  9 7 Blumetti P. (ITA) Street Triple R 1'01.124
  10 39 Costa R. (ITA) Street Triple R 1'37.726
  11 93 Mariage F. (FRA) Street Triple R 1'39.337
  12 1 Anaclerio R. (ITA) Street Triple R
  RET 9 Annoni E. (ITA) Street Triple R
  RET 23 Rovelli G. (ITA) Street Triple R

• The Eugene Machine marches on - A close race at the front saw Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) take a win by only 0.058 seconds from Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech Honda) with Laverty setting the best time of the race on lap 17 to hold off the battling Brit.

  
  Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was third and thus Sofuoglu leads the championship fight by 219 points to 211.

  
  Top Kawasaki rider was Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com) fourth, ahead of Fabien Foret (Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki).

   

   

   

• Nurburgring Supersport - Race -

  1  50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 37'52.893 (154,592 kph) 
  2   4 Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 0.058 
  3  54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 5.072 
  4  23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 15.890 
  5  99 Foret F. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 16.911 
  6   7 Davies C. (GBR) Triumph Daytona 675 28.380 
  7  25 Salom D. (ESP) Triumph Daytona 675 28.495 
  8  55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 28.578 
  9  51 Pirro M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 28.787 
  10  44 Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'02.199 
  11   9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'19.432 
  12 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 1'24.011 
  13  21 Iddon C. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 1'30.504 
  14 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 1'51.319 
  15  10 Toth I. (HUN) Honda CBR600RR  
  RET  37 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R  
  RET  14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Triumph Daytona 675  
  RET  31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675  
  RET  34 Quarmby R. (RSA) Honda CBR600RR  
  RET   8 Chesaux B. (SUI) Honda CBR600RR  
  RET  18 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR

• Honda man Rea takes race one - Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) took an early lead in the re-started first race, and rode at full pace to lead Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) home and record his fourth win of the 2010 season.

  
  Third place went to Yamaha Sterilgarda rider Cal Crutchlow, ten seconds back on Rea. Championship leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) was fourth, and Kawasaki Racing Team rider Tom Sykes was a more than creditable fifth.

  
  Leon Haslam, one of the riders involved in the crash that caused the race to be re-run, was sixth for Suzuki Alstare.

   

• Nurburgring Superbike - Race 1 -

  1  65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 38'42.640 (159,243 kph) 
  2   7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1.126 
  3  35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 10.006 
  4   3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 10.716 
  5  66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 17.391 
  6  91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 19.301 
  7 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 19.613 
  8  50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 19.880 
  9  67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 21.176 
  10  99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 29.752 
  11  57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 30.156 
  12   5 Lowry I. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 53.622 
  13  95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 58.820 
  14  15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'25.906 
  RET  33 Lai F. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR  
  RET  84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R  
  RET  41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R  
  RET  96 Smrz J. (CZE) Aprilia RSV4 Factory  
  RET  11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR  
  RET  76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR  
  RET  52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1

• Ayrton takes perfect eight from eight - Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia STK) took his eighth successive win of the season at a sunny Nürburgring, posting a perfect 200 points total so far.

  
  Winning on BMW's home ground, Badovini was almost a second up on Maxime Berger (Honda Ten Kate Race Junior), who led until lap 9, with Andrea Antonelli (Team Lorini) in contact and in the final podium place.

  
  Sylvain Barrier (Garnier Junior Racing BMW) won a close fight with Loris Baz (MRS Racing Yamaha) and Michele Magnoni (Bevilacqua Corse Honda).