Max Neukirchner (Team Alstare Suzuki) and Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) split wins at the WSB event in Misano this past weekend, although factory Xerox Ducati rider Troy Bayliss held onto a good lead in the series title with a pair of third places while Neukirchner, who dropped to seventh in the second race, took over second.
Superpole winner Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) took a second and a fifth to move to fifth in the series, while Hanspree Ten Kate Honda rider Carlos Checa dropped to third after a fifth and an eighth.
Neukirchner’s win was his second victory of the year. The German stepped up the pace in the second part of the race to catch and pass frontrunners Xaus and Corser, who went on to finish fourth and second respectively. Third place on the podium after an inconsistent run went to points leader Bayliss.
Nurburgring double winner Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) had a difficult race, finishing 10th after starting from row 4, while Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) crashed with Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) in a collision on lap 12.
The second race of the day saw a sensational and unexpected 1-2 win for the private Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati team. Ruben Xaus’ first win of the year was ahead of team-mate Max Biaggi, who capitalized on a mistake by Bayliss to grab the second podium slot. Fourth and fifth went to the two Yamahas of Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser, with "Nitro Nori" making amends for his disappointing first race.
No doubt the folks at BMW who have just signed Ruben Xaus for a two-year stint on their new superbike starting next year will be wearing cheerful smiles to the office this week.
