2009 World Superbike Championship Round 2, Qatar

[The Phantom]

WSB final qualifying results.

According to Kropotkin, Spies time is faster than 10 of the MotoGP riders achieved at the Qatar tests a couple of weeks ago!


Pos. No. Rider Country Bike Time
1 19 B. Spies USA Yamaha YZF R1 1'57.280
2 96 J. Smrz CZE Ducati 1098R 1'57.384
3 3 M. Biaggi ITA Aprilia RSV4 1'57.694
4 41 N. Haga JPN Ducati 1098R 1'57.850
5 66 T. Sykes GBR Yamaha YZF R1 1'57.878
6 56 S. Nakano JPN Aprilia RSV4 1'58.755
7 7 C. Checa ESP Honda CBR1000RR1'59.090
8 67 S. Byrne GBR Ducati 1098R 2'00.021
9 44 R. Rolfo ITA Honda CBR1000RR 1'58.734
10 84 M. Fabrizio ITA Ducati 1098R 1'58.919
11 55 R. Laconi FRA Ducati 1098R 1'59.044
12 9 R. Kiyonari JPN Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.055
13 23 B. Parkes AUS Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'59.074
14 71 Y. Kagayam JPN Suzuki GSX-R10001'59.134
15 111 R. Xaus ESP BMW S1000 RR 1'59.435
16 11 T. Corser AUS BMW S1000 RR 1'59.454
17 65 J. Rea GBR Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.713
18 91 L. Haslam GBR Honda CBR1000RR 1'59.882
19 76 M. Neukirch GER Suzuki GSX-R10001'59.926
20 33 T. Hill GBR Honda CBR1000RR 2'00.108
21 31 K. Muggerid AUS Suzuki GSX-R10002'00.738
22 100 M. Tamada JPN Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'00.839
23 25 D. Salom ESP Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.047
24 24 B. Roberts AUS Ducati 1098R 2'01.165
25 77 V. Iannuzzo ITA Honda CBR1000RR 2'01.560
26 86 A. Badovini ITA Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.561
27 99 L. Scassa ITA Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'01.607
28 15 M. Baiocco ITA Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'02.663

[Corny]

According to Kropotkin, Spies time is faster than 10 of the MotoGP riders achieved at the Qatar tests a couple of weeks ago!

That does not surprise me, the SBK riders use qualifying tyres, GP riders not.. Next to that: during the GP session it was quit cold

[Wim_Impreza]

Cold in Qatar? I think it was around 20 degrees, that is for me warm. Testsessions are much more exciting in MotoGP than the races...

Anyway, I am looking forward to the races today. They would be again great.

[Corny]

the motogp test was in the night, remember. And that was quit cold indeed

[Wim_Impreza]

Yes, I remember but I find 20 degrees not cold.

Very nice first WSBK race and the WSS was absolutely fantastic.

[ChrisS]

Spies is doing a "Stoner" and makes the races boring

SS was a great race, what a great result Laverty after the past 2 years in 250cc

He dedicated his win to the late Craig Jones

[The Phantom]

Rather impressive showing from Master Spies... bring back Bayliss

Aprilia/Biaggi equally impressive, hopefully we're seeing a build up to serious title contention within a round or two, otherwise Spies will overhaul Haga and that will be that.

Haga knows his way around the twin, he won 5 races on a Duc in 2004, and before that scored a bunch of podiums on the Aprilia RSV (and he actually started his superbike career in Japan on Ducatis). So it's hard to say he's still getting to grips with the 1198. Haga for the 2010 title?

Corser was strong in race two for a while. I think BMW, for all their technology, may have missed the boat - V4 or crossplane I4 power is clearly where it's at, as it was nearly 20 years ago with Honda's V4 weapons, before Ducati eclipsed them under regulations that leaned towards the twins.

Great work from Laverty in WSS, top result! McCoy isn't far off the pace though, I reckon the Triumph is ready for a podium fairly soon! And definitely a race win before the year is out.

[Corny]

It seems that the Ducati members made Haga a new person.. Haven't seen any brutal overtakings of him. Sure that helps on season-standings, and he is leading now...

We'll see, if Haga can keep this up he's my favourite.

[Rod Richardson]

WSBK -
Spies' performances in Rounds 1 & 2 have been astounding and IMO will inspire more rapid development of other brands and regenerate interest from the US of A in the series. His wins to date have not quite been "runaway" wins therefore I don't believe we are headed for a predictable procession.

In particular, I expect to see stronger showings from Suzuki and BMW in the not-too-distant future.


WSS -
Great racing again as expected and to see other riders taking it to the more predictable performing Ten Kate guys. An inspiring and deserved win by Laverty, top performances by Cruthchlow, McCoy and (for most of the race) by Aitchison and Harms.

Disappointing for West being about 6 km/h down on speed on the straight.

[Mach24]

Spies was in control for the entire weekend.

The test will be on return to Europe as both PI and Qatar are pretty foreign to all riders, yet most of the serious challengers for the title are pros in Europe.

However the 3 consecutive titles Spies took in the US shows he is no mug!