WSBK BRANDS HATCH, ROUND 8 1/08/04

It was a beautiful sunny and hot weekend for the World Superbikes at Brands Hatch.  Regis Laconi was fastest in qualifying, but that all changed in Superpole.  It was Steve Martin who came out on top in Superpole, and he was joined on the front row of the grid by Noriyuki Haga, Frankie Chili and Gianluca Nannelli (Ducati)

RACE 1

Haga led from the start with Chili taking over on lap 4 until lap 8, when Haga was back in front.  Haga and Laconi exchanged the lead several times throughout the race, with Chili, Vermeulen, Martin, Troy Corser and James Ellison hot on their heels.  Chili crashed out on lap 19, leaving Haga and Laconi to fight it out to the end with Haga eventually taking the win, and pole setter Martin in 3rd.

RACE 2

Once again Haga was in the lead at the end of lap 1.  On lap 3 James Toseland retired at the same time as there was a crash and the race was red flagged.  Toseland was in the restart, only to crash out with Corser on the first lap.  Haga, Laconi and Chili were disputing the lead again, but this time it was Laconi who crashed out on lap19.  Meanwhile Vermeulen was riding a steady race to finish 3rd, and Chris Walker was working his way up to take a well earned 4th, much to the delight of his many fans, but with Ellison in his wheel tracks for much of the race, in 5th.

SUPERSPORT RACE

Karl Muggeridge (Honda) was dominant both in qualifying and in the race.  The race was stopped on lap 10 when Fabien Foret had a nasty crash.  Muggeridge lost his lead briefly when Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) had a short spell at the front.  But Muggeridge showed why he is leading the Championship by being at the front when it counted to take the win.  He was followed home by Charpentier, Jurgen vd Goorbergh (Yamaha), and Broc Parkes (Honda).