haga

Riders Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser are both have a proven record at Monza, in races and Superpole, with Haga looking to repeat his double win of one year ago after finishing just two of the last four races.

Race two at Assen proved to be harder fought up front between Haga and Bayliss but further back the battles were a little less fraught than in race one.

Haga had lost the front of his Yamaha Italia while holding fourth position early in race one, but showed no lack of faith in his R1 as he charged confidently forwards during the second outing - overtaking Troy Bayliss for the lead on lap 8 of 23.

1. Noriyuki Haga JPN Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 23 laps 2. Troy Bayliss AUS Ducati Xerox 1098 F08 +1.551 3. Carlos Checa SPA Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +2.903

Noriyuki Haga believes the 2008 World Superbike season will be more exciting than MotoGP.

The list reveals that there will be six of the new 1200cc Ducati 1098Rs on the grid this year, with single-rider entries for former factory pliot Lorenzo Lanzi (R.G.Team) and Czech Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Racing) adding to the two-rider Xerox and Sterilgarda line-ups.

"It's gone very well. We spent the days testing new parts, the results are good so now I am just waiting for the race," began Haga, who finished the test sixth fastest but just 0.3secs behind Suzuki's Yukio Kagayama.

The big story at the start of the 2007 World Superbike season was the debut of former MotoGP star Max Biaggi who, after a season on the sidelines, was returning to world championship racing with Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra.

Haga and leader Troy Bayliss had battled for supremacy from the start of race one, but were later caught by home hero Biaggi. Then, just three laps from the end, Biaggi attempted to overtake the Japanese by diving inside during the second part of the Curvone corner.

The Magny Cours circuit, venue for this weekend's World Superbike season finale, is a favourite of Yamaha Motor Italia rider Noriyuki Haga, who won the last race of the 2004 season to take third in the championship with Renegade Ducati.

Team Renegade Ducati Koji star Noriyuki Haga laid down the gauntlet to the rest of the World Superbike field by completing a scintillating double victory in last weekends eighth round of the Championship at Brands Hatch.

Full World Superbike race one results from Brands Hatch, round eight of the 2004 world championship.

Full race result 1 from Oschersleben, Germany - round five of the 2004 World Superbike Championship.

Full race two results from the first round of the 2004 World Superbike Championship, at Valencia, Spain.

Today at FGSport's headquarters in Rome, Noriyuki Haga signed to ride in the 2004 World Superbike championship for Renegade Ducati, alongside Leon Haslam.