Neukirchner and Haga rule at Monza
 There
were two victors at the fifth round of the HANNspree Superbike
World Championship at Monza, Italy today as Max Neukirchner
and Noriyuki Haga took the top spot in races one and two respectively.
Despite current championship leader Troy Bayliss’ superb
start from the line in the first race, Neukirchner had slotted
nicely into position at the front of the pack by the fourth
lap. The German then dominated the remainder of the 18-lap
race, leading Haga and Bayliss to the chequered flag, and
adding a well-earned 25 points to his championship tally.
At the start of the second leg, Bayliss, Neukirchner and
Haga were again among the frontrunners, all determined to
score the second victory at Monza. However, Australian Bayliss
was forced to retire on the seventh lap due to technical problems,
and could do nothing but watch from the pits as rivals Haga
and Neukirchner swapped and changed positions at the front
of the field.
Although it was Haga who came out on top, his advantage over
second-placed Neukirchner was only 0.009s at the chequered
flag.
Meanwhile it was a day of mixed fortunes for the HANNspree
Ten Kate Honda team. Double British Superbike Champion Ryuichi
Kiyonari scored a superb fourth place finish in the first
race, but went one better in the second leg by clinching his
maiden podium of the season.
The 25-year-old Japanese rider showed true grit and determination
in race two, dicing with the frontrunners and even leading
Haga and Neukirchner on the final lap. However, he was unable
to maintain his advantage at the front of the pack, losing
two positions by the chequered flag. Kiyonari’s fourth
and third place finishes add 26 points to his tally, propelling
him from 12th to ninth position in the overall standings.
Kiyo’s team-mate Carlos Checa had a poor start in the
first race and had to work hard for his eventual eighth place
finish. He made a better start in the second race and even
avoided a coming together with Troy Corser on the eighth lap.
However, the 35-year-old Spaniard crashed out of contention
on lap nine.
The third HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider Kenan Sofuoglu was
unable to participate in the Italian event, due to a loss
in his family. The 23-year-old returned to Turkey on Friday,
but hopes to join the Superbike contingent at Salt Lake City
for the sixth round of the championship.
HANNspree Honda Althea’s Roberto Rolfo was also unable
to complete the Monza event – his home round. The 28-year-old
Italian broke his left collarbone in a mountain biking accident
while training. He hopes to return to the championship for
round six.
Round five, Monza – race one result
1 Neukirchner M. 32'02.851
2 Haga N. +0.058
3 Bayliss T. +0.672
4 Kagayama Y. +0.771
5 Biaggi M. +3.869
6 Kiyonari R. +5.995
7 Nieto F. +8.788
8 Checa C. +9.374
9 Fabrizio M. +10.667
10 Smrz J. +10.771
Round five, Monza – race two result
1 Haga N. 32'07.576
2 Neukirchner M. +0.009
3 Kiyonari R. +0.051
4 Nieto F. +4.489
5 Fabrizio M. +10.272
6 Muggeridge K. +10.376
7 Xaus R. +10.496
8 Corser T. +12.498
9 Badovini A. +19.429
10 Lavilla G. +26.373
DNF Checa C.
Championship standings after five rounds
1. T. Bayliss 194
2. C. Checa 116
3. N. Haga 112
4. M. Neukirchner 111
5. F. Nieto 107
6. T. Corser 101
7. R. Xaus 90
8. M. Biaggi 65
9. R. Kiyonari 65
10. G. Lavilla 59
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