HAGA'S TUMBLE LETS IN SPIES
ABOVE: Spies began 10 points behind Noriyuki Haga but took the crown
26th October 2009
By Dave Fern
BEN Spies took the World Superbike crown in his rookie season with a victory and a fifth place in the final round at Portimao.
The Texan, making a record 11th Superpole start, began 10 points behind Noriyuki Haga but he overturned that in a
dramatic first race.
Spies was able to dictate from the front while Haga was fighting
through from a third-row start, picking off places to be up to fifth
after six laps.
But Haga tipped off as the front of his Ducati slipped out of line going through a left-hander.
“That was a tough race. I knew that I just had to go out there and win,
and when Nori crashed, that made it more important,” said MotoGP-bound
Spies, who gave Yamaha their first title in the production based series
as he took his 14th win of the campaign.
Spies needed a top-six finish in the second race to be champion and
came fifth. Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow sealed his World Super-sport title
at the first attempt, finishing fourth.
Londoner Gino Rea, third on his Ten Kate Honda, took the European Superstock 600 title.
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