BIAGGI WINS BRNO SUPERBIKE	zurück

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi moved into second place in the World Superbike Championship after taking victory in the second race of the Brno round in the Czech Republic today. Team mate Yukio Kagayama started the day well by taking third place in race one but he crashed out of the second trying to get up into the top three. He was uninjured but disappointed not to be in contention for a podium in the latter stages of the race.

Series leader James Toseland (Honda) won the first race after a terrific battle with Biaggi, Kagayama and Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha). Towards the end of the race Toseland ran wide and into the dirt, kicking up stones and dirt. Biaggi was right in his wheel tracks and was showered with stones, some smashing holes in his windscreen and another hitting his left glove and ripping a hole in it, damaging one of his fingers that needed medical attention.

At one stage, he and his good friend Haga touched but luckily they both were able to carry on -although Haga's gesticulation afterwards showed his displeasure.

The second race saw a determined charge up the field by Biaggi. The race had been delayed because of light rain and then shortened by one lap to nineteen. Biaggi was seventh at the end of the opening lap but moved up the field and passed Toseland to take the lead on lap 14. From then on in, he kept a cool head and ran out the winner by over one and a half seconds at the flag.

Max Biaggi - Race 1: 2nd, Race 2: 1st:

“Brno loves me and I love Brno. It's incredible to think of how many good memories I have of this place and today continued that pattern. It's a fantastic track because there is such a good variety of turns - some fast, some not so fast. Tyres were always going to be a bit of a problem today, but the second race was better for them because it was a bit cooler. I didn't change anything to the bike from the first race to the second, except put fresh tyres in of course. I want to thank the whole Alstare Suzuki squad for these great results today; it's been a while since I won a race, but to win one today and finish second in the other makes me very happy.”

Yukio Kagayama - Race 1: 3rd, Race 2: DNF:

“I am happy with my first race and unhappy with my second! After my success last year at this track and after the recent improvements, I really thought I could win a race or maybe take two podiums. After race one, we didn't change anything on the bike but, while I was trying to chase the leaders, I lost the front end and crashed. It happened very quickly and I could do nothing about it. Up until then, I felt that I could catch the top three and take a podium, but my plan didn't work out, so I am not so happy. “

WSB Results:

Race 1: 1 Toseland (GB-Honda), 2 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 3 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 4 Haga (J-Yamaha), 5 Rolfo (I-Honda), 6 Fabrizio (I-Honda), 7 Corser (Aus-Yamaha), 8 Lanzi (I-Ducati), 9 Neukirchner (D-Suzuki), 10 Nakatomi (J-Yamaha),

Race 2: 1 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 2 Toseland, 3 Fabrizio, 4 Haga, 5 Rolfo, 6 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati), 7 Lanzi, 8 Nieto (E-Kawasaki), 9 Nakatomi, 10 Xaus (E-Ducati). DNF: Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra).

Championship Points: 1 Toseland 305, 2 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 262, 3 Haga 260, 4 Bayliss 249, 5 Corser 191, 6 Lanzi 150, 7 Xaus 140, 8 Rolfo 131, 9 Neukirchner 111, 10 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 105.