World Superbikes Assen (Spoilers)

2d Qualifying

1 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'38.714
2 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'38.735
3 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'38.747
4 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'38.900
5 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'39.022
6 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.059
7 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'39.074
8 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'39.128
9 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.141
10 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'39.323
11 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.359
12 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.359
13 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'39.539
14 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'39.581
15 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1'39.782
16 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'39.798
17 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'39.824
18 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'39.827
19 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'39.934
20 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.047
21 94 Checa D. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R1 1'40.496
22 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'40.572
23 32 Easton S. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'40.608
24 77 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'41.014
25 100 Tamada M. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'41.057
26 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'41.062
27 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'41.085
28 88 Resch R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'41.978

Spies looked like he was cruising, took pole easily.

I'm looking forward to the racing tomorrow.

Nice, as a Brit, to see Haslam on the front row.

Hopkins: 'The most excruciating pain of my life'

By Michael Guy
World Superbikes
25 April 2009 11:11
John Hopkins remains in hospital in Assen following his crash in First practice yesterday. The American high sided his Stiggy Honda resulting in a dislocated hip and cracked Femur. He is scheduled to fly San Francisco this evening to see specialist Dr Ting where he could undergo further surgery on Monday if necesary.

The former MotoGP man who broke his ankle and leg onboard the 800cc Kawasaki ZX-RR in 2008 is expected to miss the next two rounds of the championship at Monza and Kyalami and make his return at Salt Lake City at the end of May.

Hopkins said: "It looks like I am continuing my bad luck here in Assen two years in a row. I didn't even get five laps under my belt this time. I had a huge high-side and landed feet first, which dislocated my hip and cracked the top of my femur. For about three hours, until they placed me in the operating room and put my hip back into place, I was in the most excruciating pain I have ever been in my life.

“I was really motivated to race here this weekend and initially I felt really good from the moment I jumped on the bike, but this is just bad luck. Now I will just have to recuperate The biggest problem will be the muscles. All the ligaments and muscles around the femur are torn, which is a lot worse then actual broken bones. If there was no muscle damage, I would be back racing in two weeks, now we will have to wait for the proper evaluation".

Superpole

1. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Italia YZF R1 1min 37.626s
2. Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1min 37.765s
3. Leon Haslam GBR Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR1000RR 1min 38.072s
4. Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 38.202s
5. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 38.215s
6. Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9 1min 38.363s
7. Carlos Checa ESP HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 38.640s
8. Tom Sykes GBR Yamaha Italia YZF R1 1min 38.770s

9. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9 1min 38.288s
10. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Racing RSV-4 1min 38.441s
11. Jonathan Rea GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 38.510s
12. Regis Laconi FRA DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1min 38.521s
13. Karl Muggeridge AUS Celani Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 38.802s
14. Shane Byrne GBR Sterilgarda Ducati 1098R 1min 38.881s
15. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 38.906s
16. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 39.079s

17. Tommy Hill GBR HANNspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1min 39.387s
18. Brendan Roberts AUS Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1min 39.390s
19. Shinya Nakano JPN Aprilia Racing RSV-4 1min 39.569s
20. Ruben Xaus ESP BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 39.643s

Did not qualify for Superpole

21. David Checa ESP Yamaha France GMT 94 1min 40.496s
22. David Salom ESP Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 40.572s
23. Stuart Easton GBR Kawasaki SRT ZX-0R 1min 40.608s
24. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA SCI Honda CBR1000RR 1mins 41.014s
25. Makoto Tamada JPN Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R 1min 41.057s
26. Matteo Baiocco ITA PSG-1 Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 41.062s
27. Luca Scassa ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 41.085s
28. Roland Resch AUT TKR Switzerland Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 41.978s

John Hopkins USA Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR1000RR Did Not Participate

I knew that Ben was good, but his results so far have been unbelievable. I don't remember any one in WSB ever having four poles in a row. The regulars are no doubt wondering where the hell this guy came from.:eek1

Can anyone tell me what time (West coast) the races are on tomorrow? Not on tv but actual race time.
Thanks

http://www.worldsbk.com/it/news/ultime-news/264.html

<table style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 507px; height: 654px;" border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">1</td> <td width="40">19</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Spies B</td> <td width="50">USA</td> <td width="160">Yamaha YZF R1</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.039</td> <td width="100">
</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">2</td> <td width="40">41</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Haga N</td> <td width="50">JPN</td> <td width="160">Ducati 1098R</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'38.742</td> <td width="100">0.154</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">3</td> <td width="40">91</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Haslam L</td> <td width="50">GBR</td> <td width="160">Honda CBR1000RR</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'38.730</td> <td width="100">0.779</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">4</td> <td width="40">66</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Sykes T</td> <td width="50">GBR</td> <td width="160">Yamaha YZF R1</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.028</td> <td width="100">8.775</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">5</td> <td width="40">3</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Biaggi M</td> <td width="50">ITA</td> <td width="160">Aprilia RSV4 Factory</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.373</td> <td width="100">11.275</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">6</td> <td width="40">96</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Smrz J</td> <td width="50">CZE</td> <td width="160">Ducati 1098R</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.655</td> <td width="100">16.126</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">7</td> <td width="40">65</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Rea J</td> <td width="50">GBR</td> <td width="160">Honda CBR1000RR</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.232</td> <td width="100">19.555</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">8</td> <td width="40">55</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Laconi R</td> <td width="50">FRA</td> <td width="160">Ducati 1098R</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.604</td> <td width="100">19.760</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">9</td> <td width="40">84</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Fabrizio M</td> <td width="50">ITA</td> <td width="160">Ducati 1098R</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.505</td> <td width="100">23.006</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">10</td> <td width="40">11</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Corser T</td> <td width="50">AUS</td> <td width="160">BMW S1000 RR</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.908</td> <td width="100">24.285</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">11</td> <td width="40">67</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Byrne S</td> <td width="50">GBR</td> <td width="160">Ducati 1098R</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.942</td> <td width="100">26.003</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">12</td> <td width="40">31</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Muggeridge K</td> <td width="50">AUS</td> <td width="160">Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.612</td> <td width="100">27.814</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">13</td> <td width="40">76</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Neukirchner M</td> <td width="50">GER</td> <td width="160">Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.085</td> <td width="100">36.962</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">14</td> <td width="40">111</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Xaus R</td> <td width="50">ESP</td> <td width="160">BMW S1000 RR</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'40.564</td> <td width="100">39.025</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">15</td> <td width="40">9</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Kiyonari R</td> <td width="50">JPN</td> <td width="160">Honda CBR1000RR</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'39.926</td> <td width="100">41.505</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">16</td> <td width="40">24</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Roberts B</td> <td width="50">AUS</td> <td width="160">Ducati 1098R</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'40.218</td> <td width="100">41.810</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">17</td> <td width="40">100</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Tamada M</td> <td width="50">JPN</td> <td width="160">Kawasaki ZX 10R</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'40.581</td> <td width="100">50.186</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">18</td> <td width="40">32</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Easton S</td> <td width="50">GBR</td> <td width="160">Kawasaki ZX 10R</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'41.059</td> <td width="100">55.567</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">19</td> <td width="40">94</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Checa D</td> <td width="50">ESP</td> <td width="160">Yamaha YZF R1</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'40.856</td> <td width="100">56.425</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">20</td> <td width="40">25</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Salom D</td> <td width="50">ESP</td> <td width="160">Kawasaki ZX 10R</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'40.958</td> <td width="100">1'05.169</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">21</td> <td width="40">88</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Resch R</td> <td width="50">AUT</td> <td width="160">Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9</td> <td width="100">PIT IN</td> <td width="100">1'42.528</td> <td width="100">1'37.663</td> <td width="60">22</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">RET</td> <td width="40">99</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Scassa L</td> <td width="50">ITA</td> <td width="160">Kawasaki ZX 10R</td> <td width="100">RETIRED</td> <td width="100">1'40.909</td> <td width="100">4 Laps</td> <td width="60">18</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">RET</td> <td width="40">56</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Nakano S</td> <td width="50">JPN</td> <td width="160">Aprilia RSV4 Factory</td> <td width="100">RETIRED</td> <td width="100">1'40.464</td> <td width="100">9 Laps</td> <td width="60">13</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">RET</td> <td width="40">77</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Iannuzzo V</td> <td width="50">ITA</td> <td width="160">Honda CBR1000RR</td> <td width="100">RETIRED</td> <td width="100">1'41.825</td> <td width="100">9 Laps</td> <td width="60">13</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">RET</td> <td width="40">15</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Baiocco M</td> <td width="50">ITA</td> <td width="160">Kawasaki ZX 10R</td> <td width="100">RETIRED</td> <td width="100">1'41.505</td> <td width="100">10 Laps</td> <td width="60">12</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">RET</td> <td width="40">7</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Checa C</td> <td width="50">ESP</td> <td width="160">Honda CBR1000RR</td> <td width="100">RETIRED</td> <td width="100">1'39.550</td> <td width="100">18 Laps</td> <td width="60">4</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">RET</td> <td width="40">71</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Kagayama Y</td> <td width="50">JPN</td> <td width="160">Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9</td> <td width="100">RETIRED</td> <td width="100">
</td> <td width="100">21 Laps</td> <td width="60">1</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" width="40">RET</td> <td width="40">33</td> <td style="font-weight: bold;" width="120">Hill T</td> <td width="50">GBR</td> <td width="160">Honda CBR1000RR</td> <td width="100">RETIRED</td> <td width="100">
</td> <td width="100">
</td> <td width="60">0</td></tr></tbody></table>

Looking at live timing (all the usual video feeds were showing skinny people running through the streets of London), there was a hell of a battle at the front between Haga, Haslam and Spies. Spies led til midrace, then Haga and Haslam got by. Spies got by Haslam with 2 laps to go and then took nearly a half second out of Haga on the last lap to win by .154.

fantastic last couple of laps, Spies put some great moves on haslam & nori chan

Amazing, Haslam and Spies were almost touching for 3 corners, one of the best last few laps of a race ever!

MitchMan

stunning conclusion to that race; well done Spies.

Roll on race 2

Oops. Spies crashed out on lap 1!!!!!!!!

Ben really needs to work on that "hero to zero" ratio...

Has Spies actually finished anywhere but first yet?

Haga and Spies were top entertainment in the first race.

Yes, 16th in Phillip Island, race 1.

Race 1 at Assen was a classic. Supersport race was pretty special too. Shame about race 2, bit of a snoozer after Spies crashed out, very spectacularly.

As Haga did when he joined WSC he spectacularly crashed or won. I don't know what magic they have over at the Ducati garage but who would have thought Haga would be fast and consistent.

Ben will figure it out - better to be fast and crash etc. Kudos to Haslam he's the fastest of the Honda's I hope he can keep it up for the whole season.

If anyone saw the interview that Haga did before the 2 races at Phillip Island you would've witnessed someone who looked and sounded extremely nervous at the prospect of taking Bayliss' place at Ducati. He more or less said, "We know bike is velly good, yes and I haffatu win... I mustu win!!"

Speeezz-uh (sorry, too many French broadcasts) is pushing very hard on new tracks (for him) and new tires (for everybody). Losing the front end a few times ain't the end of the world. That Yamaha actually seems to be pretty user friendly (no bad highsiding tendencies) but you don't get to trade paint with Haga by hanging about.

Rossi had a career pattern of tossing it down the road in his first year in a class (125's, 250's, and 500's) and then sorting it out after that. Hor-Hey seems to be on the same learning curve...and thank Dog for that, because Lorenzo would have needed to start packing a parachute if his high-siding ways continued.

I am pretty sure Ben will figure out where 11/10ths is at this level

That battle between Spies and Haga in the first race was amazing. Talk about close racing. WSBK has been the most exciting race series so far this year and this coming from a huge F1 and Moto GP fan.

Spies' bike looked like it had a mind of its own after he crashed in race 2.

Spies, when he stays on the track, is the only one who seems like they can take it to Haga.