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MARTIN: Two Titles On The Line In Portimao
Written by: Chris Martin   
10/22/2009
Iowa City, IA
 
(Photo: Infront Motorsports) ยป More Photos

PROGRAMMING NOTE: The World Superbike finale doubleheader from Portimao will air back-to-back on SPEED on Sunday, October 25 starting at 3:00pm ET.

There are two titles on the line this weekend at what's promising to be the most dramatic Superbike World Championship finale since the epic Colin Edwards vs. Troy Bayliss showdown at Imola in 2002. Along with the official 2009 series trophy, there's also the unofficial title crowning 'the best to have never won it all' in play in Portugal.

Noriyuki Haga -- a legend, both in terms of performance and personality -- needs just this world championship to truly cement his place in World Superbike history.

A quick paging of the record books shows that he ranks near the top in just about every important category (he sits third in all-time victories, third in
runner-up finishes, third in thirds, and third in combined podium appearances). Not surprisingly, all of the riders who surround him in the upper echelons of these all-time lists are not just former champions, but multi-time kings.

This might be Haga's only chance. Yes, Spies' one-and-done exit leaves the door wide open again next season, but the Ducati ace made it through '09 remarkably (and uncharacteristically) cleanly; there's no guarantee that will happen again in '10. Plus, the championship is loaded with a deep pack of hungry young riders who will only gain in strength this offseason while the Japanese rider will find himself a year older as he enters his 11th campaign in the series. And there's no telling just how deep a wound a defeat in this season finale would cut into his psyche; he might never recover.


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