haga

Noriyuki Haga can call himself a winner at Assen for the first time in nine years after scoring a win and a second place in the fourth round of the World Superbike Championship.

Ben Spies gave his rivals something to worry about ahead of the Monza round of the World Superbike Championship as he brought the two-day test around the Italian circuit to a close with the quickest time.

Having played the consistency card in Qatar, Noriyuki Haga showed in Valencia exactly how difficult he will be to beat on the Ducati Xerox this season with a resounding double victory.

Leon Haslam expects this year's World Superbike Championship fight to come down to a head-to-head between Ben Spies and Noriyuki Haga, the Stiggy rider branding the American rookie a 'class act'.

Noriyuki Haga continues to lead the after two rounds of the World Superbike Championship, although Ben Spies' double triumph at Losail has sliced the margin in half to ten points.

Full race results (1) from the second round of the World Superbike Championship at the Losail International Circuit, Qatar.

Noriyuki Haga admits he is merely happy to be starting considerably higher than he managed in Australia after qualifying a much improved fourth in Qatar.

Ben Spies has taken victory in the second World Superbike race of the season at Phillip Island after resisting the attentions of a charging Noriyuki Haga.

Full race results (1) from the opening round of the World Superbike Championship in Phillip Island, Australia.

Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio expressed mixed feelings about the new Superpole qualifying system after both sampling it for the first time towards the end of pre-season testing in Portimao.

A total of 32 riders will compete for the 2009 World Superbike Championship after the FIM published the official entry list for the new season.

Team-mates Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser will battle for second in the 2008 world championship during their final WSBK appearance for Yamaha in this weekend's season finale at the brand new Portimao circuit.

Troy Bayliss has wrapped up the 2008 World Superbike Championship in his swansong season after a comfortable ride to third in the first race at Magny-Cours.

Noriyuki Haga has won his second World Superbike race of the weekend at Vallelunga, but the big news was Troy Bayliss' failure to score when he came down just three corners from the chequered flag - and the title!

1. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 39mins 10.265secs 24 laps 2. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 +1.507secs 3. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 +2.268secs

1. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 24 laps 2. Max Biaggi ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven 1098 RS08 +0.129secs 3. Troy Corser AUS Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 +0.535secs

Disqualified Noriyuki Haga blamed the excessive spray for not heeding the calls to come into the pit-lane for his drive-thru penalty on a weekend to forget for the Yamaha rider.

Yamaha Motor Italia riders Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser will have the option of running full electronic suspension for the first time at this weekend's Donington Park round of the World Superbike Championship.

Noriyuki Haga has paid tribute to his doctor for giving him the chance to take two superb victories in the latest round of the World Superbike Championship at the Nurburgring.

The fender problem - which occurred sporadically during the second half of the second race - was caused by the Yamaha Italia team shortening the wheelbase of Haga's R1.

Noriyuki Haga survived intermittent clouds of smoke from his Yamaha R1 to overtake countryman Ryuichi Kiyonari for victory on the very last turn of a dramatic, incident packed, second race at Monza.

1. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 18 laps 2. Max Neukirchner GER Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +0.009 secs 3. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +0.051 secs

Last year's double Monza winner Noriyuki Haga is predicting a flat-out fight during Sunday's World Superbike races at the high speed Italian circuit, but is hoping for last minute set-up progress after failing to match his 2007 pace in qualifying.

A stunning first sector saw Bayliss pull half a second over the previous fastest rider, Hannspree Ten Kate's Carlos Checa, before increasing his advantage to 0.7secs through the middle of the lap and then 0.835secs over the Spaniard by the flag.