2009 World Superbike Championship Round 1, Phillip Island

[NinjaMaster]

Some photos from the Island. Sorry for the delay but hope you enjoy.


A quite impressive Roby Rolfo proved to be fairly quick over the weekend.



Yukio Kagayama had an impressive race 1.



Haga had his best start to the championship for a long time.



Broc was clearly the quickest Kwak rider by a long way but for all the pre-season promise, it's looking like a long year.



Tommy Hill showed some surprising speed.

[NinjaMaster]

Leon Haslam was a surprise podium getter



whilst Kiyonari on his HRC Honda was the disappointment of the round.



"Where'd Ben go? I swear I saw him around a minute ago!" Corser already has the Beamer showing some competitive speed.



The best looking bikes on the grid, the sexy Aprilia RSV4's of Biaggi and Nakano.



Crutchlow has taken to supersport like a duck to water.

[NinjaMaster]

Mark Aitchison looks to be a top 5 supersport contender.



Westy - he's back!



McCoy and the Trumpy showed early pace but struggled in the race.



Lascorz on the new ZX6R showed some promising signs of seeing team green towards the pointy end of Supersport in 2009.



A solid crowd was on hand on raceday.

[NinjaMaster]

Lap 1, Race 1, Round 1, 2009 - Jonathon Rea gets the holeshot for the early lead.



But Shakey Byrnes start to the season was short lived after a highside coming out of MG corner.



He needed a few minutes to collect his thoughts after hitting the tire barrier.



Neukirchner reminding people that he's a considerable threat to the title this year, battling with Haga for the lead...



...before Nori eventually got the better of him.

[NinjaMaster]

A Kawasaki in the lead! Lascorz leads 1st lap of WSS race.



Laverty leads a remarkable freight train of 600 supersports.



Eventually, it became a 3-man fight for the lead. Here, West has the lead in the dying laps.



Race 2 of superbike and it looks like Haga is on for the double.



But Spies wasn't about to let that happen.

[NinjaMaster]

It really is a shame that traction control is ruining the spectacle of motorcycle racing. This a lap before Corser nearly highsided on the final lap.



Elbowz was justifiably happy with his race 2 success.



And I walked away a happy-chappy from the weekend having witnessed some incredible racing (including the local support events) and picking up a PSG-1 Kawasaki polo shirt signed by Ayrton Badovini and Matteo Baiocco for a fire victims relief donation. Woohoo!

[Corny]

seeing this pictures: I would say you can get real close to the track on Philip Island!

[tha_jackal]

excellent work clint!

looks like you had an amazing weekend.

[leopard]

good job Ninja... but, where is the grid girl?

[Roby44]

The auction was great wasn't it......

I missed the Roby stuff as I was stilll in the paddock talking to him when they went up for auction!!

A friend bought 2 pair of boots, and 1 pair actually fit him!!, and 2 ducati shirts!!