Japan’s Noriyuki Haga took his first double win in the World Superbike Championship race on Sunday despite some stiff competition from Regis Laconi and Pierfrancesco Chili.
Japan’s Noriyuki Haga took his first double win in the World Superbike Championship race on Sunday despite some stiff competition from Regis Laconi and Pierfrancesco Chili.
In race one, Haga, Laconi and Chili battled throughout the race, before Chili’s rear wheel lost grip coming through a corner. The veteran was catapulted over the bars and into the gravel, and limped off the track.
After the incident, Haga and Laconi pulled away from the rest of the field before the Italian was pipped on the final lap.
Pre-race favourite Chris Vermeulen finished fourth behind Chris Martin, who started the race from pole position.
Chili was first across the line in the second race, which was red-flagged after Giancarlo De Matteis fell off his bike and was taken away in an ambulance.
After the restart, the race looked to be another three-bike tussle between Laconi, Haga and Chili. This time, Laconi was the one to crash out of the leading pack a mere six laps from the end.
Vermeulen put in a solid ride to take third, and two points shy of championship leader Laconi, now stands second in the competition.
Karl Muggeridge took victory in the Brands Hatch World Supersport race after an epic battle with second placed Sebastien Charpentier.
The race was restarted following a fall by Fabien Foret on lap nine. Charpentier, who started on pole in the restart, was shadowed the entire way by Muggeridge.
Muggeridge was triumphant after saving his final overtaking manoeuvre for the last lap, when the chances of Charpentier regaining the lead were slim.