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Heroic DARK DOG rider Leon defies pain
to take superb podium
Nurburgring, Germany:
The first day of practice and qualifying at the Nurburgring was a tough one for Team Suzuki Alstare riders Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli. The tyres brought here for this event were the same type as the new ones that Leon, Sylvain and the team found hard to work with in Misano and Brno and so a lot more work on bike set-up had to be done before they could push as hard as they wanted.
Team Suzuki Alstare rider Sylvain Guintoli had his best Superpole of the season and started the pair of 20-lap races from the front row of the grid. The Frenchman was in tremendous form, particularly in Superpole 2, when he ended up the fastest. It took a record lap from Max Biaggi (Aprilia) to knock Sylvain down the order, but he held on to third quickest, just behind Carlos Checa (Ducati). Leon had struggled a little in regular practice and qualifying, but dug deep and improved in Superpole. He was the fastest rider in Superpole 1, fifth in Superpole 2 and that's where he ended up also in Superpole 3.
Team Suzuki Alstare rider Leon Haslam defied the pain barrier in second race, taking a superb podium despite a dislocated right thumb and damaged knee ligaments. Leon had crashed at the start of race one, when he was highsided and it was fortunate that the race was red-flagged and he and the other fallers were able to make the restart. His bike was too badly damaged to take part in the restart, so he was forced to use his spare bike - one that he had only used for a handful of laps in practice and qualifying. The set-up and feel of the bike were different to that of his number one bike, but he rode superbly to take a very creditable sixth place. That was impressive enough, but in race two he surprised everybody with his grit, determination and fighting spirit, to take third place at the end. His reward was a reduction in the gap between him and series leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia) to 58 points, with two rounds and 100 points still up for grabs.
It was a bit of a disappointing day for Leon's team mate Sylvain Guintoli who had qualified on the front row of the grid for the first time this season. The Frenchman was taken out by Troy Corser on the opening lap of race one and was forced into the gravel. He rejoined the action second last, but then fought his way up through the field to take a highly deserved 8th place.
In race two, he was unable to capitalise on his front row grid slot and found himself in 8th at the end of the first lap. Once again he powered his way through the pack and slotted in behind Biaggi in 5th.
Leon Haslam
Race 1: 6th, Race 2: 3rd
My crash in race one was a highside and I am sorry that it caused Troy to crash also. Luckily the race was stopped and everybody was able to have another go. I had hurt my right thumb and left knee and they were very sore, but I was determined to get out there and give my all. Once the race started, the adrenaline kicked in and I think I would've been much faster and more competitive if it had not been for the fact that I was on my number two bike. The team repaired my number one bike in time for race two and I felt much happier. They and the Clinica Mobile staff did great jobs and it was thanks to both of them that I was able to get on the bike and take a podium. I'm sure I'm going to be pretty sore tonight and although I would've wanted a couple of wins today, I was happy to get on the podium and with 100 points possible in the next two rounds, anything can happen.
Sylvain Guintoli
Race 1: 8th, Race 2: 6th
Well I'm happy and not happy. I'm happy that I got on the front row in qualifying and that my race pace was good. If Troy had not have forced me out on lap one of the first race, the ending might've been a different story. Once I got back on the track, I felt I was lapping as fast as anybody really and I suppose 8th was a pretty good result, considering. I was angry with Troy because I honestly felt I could get on the podium. We changed the rear tyre for race 2, but I didn't make a good start and that gave me a lot of work to do early on. It took me about half race distance to get close enough to Max (Biaggi) and I then spent the rest of the race trying to pass him. I could match him on the brakes and in the turns OK, but his bike had much better acceleration out of the corners and that's where I was losing out. It was a big pity, because if I could've passed him, that would've helped Leon and I wanted to do it for him and the team.
Results / Race 1
1 Jonathan Rea (GBR-Honda)
2 Carlos Checa (ESP-Ducati)
3 Cal Crutchlow (GBR-Yamaha)
4 Max BIaggi (ITA-Aprilia)
5 Tom Sykes (GBR-Kawasaki)
6 Leon Haslam (GBR-Suzuki Alstare) ...
8 Sylvain Guintoli (FRA-Suzuki Alstare) ...
Results / Race 2
1 Noriyuki Haga (JPN-Ducati)
2 Jonathan Rea (GBR-Honda)
3 Leon Haslam (GBR-Suzuki Alstare)
4 Cal Crutchlow (GBR-Yamaha)
5 Max Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia)
6 Sylvain Guintoli (FRA-Suzuki Alstare)
...
Overall standing
1 Max Biaggi (ITA-Aprilia) 397
2 Leon Haslam (GBR-Suzuki Alstare) 339
3 Jonathan Rea (GBR-Honda) 288
4 Carlos Checa (ESP-Ducati) 224
5 Cal Crutchlow (GBR-Yamaha) 217
6 Noriyuki Haga (JPN-Ducati) 202 ...
8 Sylvain Guintoli (FRA-Suzuki Alstare) 169 ...
