Ben Spies bid farewell to the World Superbike Championship by taking the title in his rookie season at the season finale in Portugal this weekend.
The American, who will graduate to Moto GP next season, overturned a ten point deficit to erstwhile series leader Noriyuki Haga to become the first ever Yamaha rider to claim the prestigious title.
Spies grabbed the decisive advantage in race 1 at the Algarve Circuit near Portimao as the Texan rider took a lights-to-flag victory while Xerox Ducati’s Haga crashed out.
Haga was running fifth when he lost the front end of his Ducati 1198R on lap 7 and crashed into retirement. That meant he lost his points lead and faced a 15 point deficit going into race 1.
As Spies romped to victory, Jonathan Rea impressed for HANNspree Ten Kate Honda to take second place, with Aprilia Racing’s Max Biaggi in third. Sterilgarda Ducati’s Shane Byrne produced one of his best rides of the season in fourth ahead of Haga’s team-mate Michel Fabrizio.
Spies entered race 2 knowing a top six finish was enough to give him the title and despite a charging ride from Haga to claim second, Spies took no risks, finishing fifth and clinching the crown.
“It’s incredible to do this for Yamaha, especially in my first year here,” said Spies. “It’s been a spectacular day and I can’t thank those people that have been behind me enough. I don’t think I really realise what is happening right now, but I’m sure it’s going to hit me in a couple of days!”
Ducati riders Haga and Fabrizio were the class of the field in the second race, leaving the Xerox team to rue what might have been. Fabrizio took the win from Haga, with Rea in third and Byrne fourth, but the Italian admitted he felt sorry for his unfortunate team-mate.
“I am very sorry for Nori, but we demonstrated that we are strong,” he said. “For me, both Ben and Nori are winners because they have given us a fantastic season’s racing, fighting until the very end for the title.”
Spies’ winning margin after 28 races was just six points, leaving Haga to finish second for the third time in his career.
World Superbike Championship results – Final Round, Algarve Circuit
Race 1
1 Ben Spies, Yamaha WSB, Yamaha YZF R1, 22 laps 38:15.390
2 Jonathan Rea, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda, Honda CBR1000, +1.697
3 Max Biaggi, Aprilia Racing, Aprilia RSV-4, +2.113
4 Shane Byrne, Sterilgarda, Ducati 1098R, +2.757
5 Michel Fabrizio, Ducati Xerox, Ducati 1198R, +14.753
6 Leon Camier, Aprilia Racing, Aprilia RSV-4, +20.044
7 Carlos Checa, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda, Honda CBR1000RR, +25.634
8 Ruben Xaus, BMW Motorrad, BMW S1000RR, +31.104
9 Matthieu Lagrive, Althea Honda, Honda CBR1000RR, +36.689
10 Matteo Baiocco, Guandalini Racing, Ducati 1098R, +39.331
11 Broc Parkes, Kawasaki SRT, Kawsaki ZX-0R, +41.827
12 Makoto Tamada, Kawasaki SRT, Kawsaki ZX-10R, +41.882
13 David Salom, Team Pedercini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, +54.967
14 David Checa, Yamaha France GMT 94, Yamaha YZF R1, +1:38.533
15 Luca Scassa, Team Pedercini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, +4 laps
Not Classified
Roland Resch, TKR Switzerland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 19 laps
Troy Corser, BMW Motorrad, BMW S1000RR, 16 laps
Leon Haslam, Stiggy Motorsport, Honda CBR1000RR, 10 laps
Jakub Smrz, Guandalini Racing, Ducati 1098R, 8 laps
Sylvain Guintoli, Alstare Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9, 8 laps
Vittorio Iannuzzo, SCI, Honda CBR1000RR, 7 laps
Noriyuki Haga, Ducati Xerox, Ducati 1198R, 6 laps
Fonsi Nieto, DFX Corse, Ducati 1098R, 3 laps
Yukio Kagayama, Alstare Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9, 0 laps
Tom Sykes, Yamaha WSB, Yamaha YZF R1, DNS
Ryuichi Kiyonari, Ten Kate Honda, Honda CBR1000RR, DNS
Race 2
1 Michel Fabrizio, Ducati Xerox, Ducati 1198R, 22 laps 38:19.654
2 Noriyuki Haga, Ducati Xerox, Ducati 1198R, +1.195
3 Jonathan Rea, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda, Honda CBR1000, +1.494
4 Shane Byrne, Sterilgarda, Ducati 1098R, +5.553
5 Ben Spies, Yamaha WSB, Yamaha YZF R1, +5.842
6 Max Biaggi, Aprilia Racing, Aprilia RSV-4, +7.374
7 Leon Camier, Aprilia Racing, Aprilia RSV-4, +9.658
8 Jakub Smrz, Guandalini Racing, Ducati 1098R, +10.434
9 Troy Corser, BMW Motorrad, BMW S1000RR, +17.010
10 Sylvain Guintoli, Alstare Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9, +24.509
11 Yukio Kagayama, Alstare Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9, +27.195
12 Broc Parkes, Kawasaki SRT, Kawsaki ZX-0R, +34.825
13 Matthieu Lagrive, Althea Honda, Honda CBR1000RR, +35.135
14 Luca Scassa, Team Pedercini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, +1:01.842
15 David Checa, Yamaha France GMT 94, Yamaha YZF R1, +1:09.782
16 Makoto Tamada, Kawasaki SRT, Kawsaki ZX-10R, +1:30.818
17 David Salom, Team Pedercini, Kawasaki ZX-10R, +4 laps
Not classified
Matteo Baiocco, Guandalini Racing, Ducati 1098R, 15 laps
Leon Haslam, Stiggy Motorsport, Honda CBR1000RR, 8 laps
Carlos Checa, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda, Honda CBR1000RR, 7 laps
Ruben Xaus, BMW Motorrad, BMW S1000RR, 7 laps
Fonsi Nieto, DFX Corse, Ducati 1098R, 7 laps
Vittorio Iannuzzo, SCI, Honda CBR1000RR, 3 laps
Roland Resch, TKR Switzerland, Suzuki GSX-R1000, DNS
Tom Sykes, Yamaha WSB, Yamaha YZF R1, DNS
Ryuichi Kiyonari, Ten Kate Honda, Honda CBR1000RR, DNS
Final Championship Standings
1 Ben Spies – 462pts
2 Noriyuki Haga – 456
3 Michel Fabrizio – 382
4 Max Biaggi – 319
5 Jonathan Rea – 315
6 Leon Haslam – 241
7 Carlos Checa – 209
8 Shane Byrne – 192
9 Tom Sykes – 176
10 Jakub Smrz – 169
Watch highlights from the season finale in the Algarve on Motors TV (Sky Channel 413, Virgin Media 545) on Thursday at 9.15pm (GMT).
Andy Wilkinson
International
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