Written by:
SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
06/28/2009
Donington (GBR)
For the third time this season Ben Spies earned a clean sweep at a World Superbike round. This time the factory Yamaha rider scored the double victory at England ’s Donington Park , following up on his double victories in Qatar and the United States earlier this season. In a dramatic turn of events, the two wins, combined with a DNF by series leader Noriyuki Haga, brings Spies to within 14 points of the series lead.
Spies was simply in control at Donington Park all weekend.
Starting from the pole on his Yamaha R1, Spies led every lap of both races. In the first race he was challenged by Aprilia’s Max Biaggi until the final set of turns, where’s Biaggi’s bike slowed. Despite Biaggi staying close, Spies’ lead never appeared to be under real threat. He was able to reply each time the veteran Biaggi tried to make inroads. In the end, with Biaggi’s bike issues, Spies won by a margin of 7.156 seconds. Biaggi managed to hold onto second over Haga.
“In many ways the first race was easier for me than the second,” Spies explained. “With Max right there it gave me plenty to concentrate on.”
Race two saw Spies steadily pull away from the field with a set of blistering laps. Behind him dramatic events were happening at a dizzying rate. A slew of riders crashed, among them Haga, who fell on lap five forcing him to retire from the race. Leon Haslam held off Michel Fabrizio in a good battle for second over six-and-a-half seconds behind winner Spies.
