In the rain-affected first race in Misano
Team Suzuki Alstare Brux rider Yukio Kagayama endured difficult conditions but ended the 24-lapper with a superb sixth place.
He opted for a harder rear spring in race two, but it didn’t work as well as he had expected and he finished in 11th position. Fonsi Nieto ended with a 18th in race one, but improved to 12th in race two.
Ben Spies (Yamaha) won the rain-affected first 24-lapper, with Shane Byrne (Ducati) second and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) third.
Race two started in the dry and, apart from a few spots of rain, continued to remain a dry race. Jonathan Rea (Honda) had a race long battle with Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati), but held them both off to record his maiden WSBK victory.
Yukio
That was a difficult weekend and today was very tricky because of the changing conditions in the first race. I felt fairly comfortable for the first three or so laps, but the track dried so quickly so, after a few more laps, we decided to pull in and change bikes.
But my second bike had a half dry/half wet setting and my feeling with it was not so good. I pushed as hard as I could, especially when I was fighting with Nori, but I had to settle for sixth place.
I made a mistake by choosing a harder rear spring in race two and wasn’t able to pick up the pace. Sorry to my team. Overall though, I found a good feeling with my bike this weekend, but I am disappointed not to get the results I expected.
Fonsi
I started with full wets, but the track dried very quickly and I didn’t have any confidence with the grip. We changed bikes and I think I progressed quite well, but I saw a blue flag and thought some really fast rider was going to pass, so I pulled over.
But it was just the guys behind me and they all went past and I had lost three or so places! I wasn’t happy about this and by the time I recovered, it was too late. I made a good start in the second race and found a good pace. The bike’s balance felt good, but towards the end of the race I began to have problems with the front brake.
I had a good battle with Max (Biaggi) and finished with a positive feeling.
Race 1:
1 Ben Spies (USA-Yamaha);
2 Shane Byrne (GBR-Ducati);
3 Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati);
4 Jakub Smrz (CZE-Ducati);
5 Noriyuki Haga (JPN-Ducati);
6 Yukio Kagayama (JPN-Suzuki Alstare Brux);
7 Jonathan Rea (GBR-Honda);
8 Tom Sykes (GBR-Yamaha);
9 Shinya Nakano (JPN-Aprilia);
10 Matthieu Lagrive (FRA-Honda),
18 Fonsi Nieto (ESP-Suzuki Alstare Brux) ,
Race 2:
1 Jonathan Rea (GBR-Honda);
2 Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati);
3 Noriyuki Haga (JPN-Ducati);
4 Jakub Smrz (CZE-Ducati);
5 Carlos Checa (ESP-Honda);
6 Shane Byrne (GBR-Ducati);
7 Tom Sykes (GBR-Yamaha);
8 Leon Haslam (GBR-Honda);
9 Ben Spies (USA-Yamaha);
10 Max Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia),
11 Yukio Kagayama (JPN-Suzuki Alstare Brux);
12 Fonsi Nieto (ESP-Suzuki Alstare Brux),
Championship points:
1 Haga 292;
2 Spies 244;
3 Fabrizio 237;
4 Rea 167;
5 Biaggi 135;
6 Haslam 134;
7 Sykes 130;
8 Checa 109;
9 Smrz 108;
10 Kiyonari 98 …
11 Yukio Kagayama (JPN-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 91,
14 Max Neukirchner (GER-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 75 ,
23 Fonsi Nieto (ESP-Suzuki Alstare Brux) 8,
source: Kel Edge Photography