Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare) and Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) took a win apiece at the opening round of the 2010 World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island on Sunday.
Haslam recorded his first ever World Superbike win in race one, edging out Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) by just 0.004 seconds, the closest finish in the history of world superbike racing. Fabrizio was originally given the win but after close inspection of the finish images, race marshals awarded the victory to Haslam.
In race two Checa passed Haslam on the final lap to take the checkered flag in another squeaker, seeing just 0.434 seconds separating the top three riders. The win was Checa’s third world superbike victory, having won twice in 2008.
Watch both exciting finishes in the highlight videos below.
2010 World Superbike Phillip Island Race 1 Results
1. Leon Haslam (Suzuki)
2. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) + 0.004
3. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) + 0.769
4. Jonathan Rea (Honda)
5. Max Biaggi (Aprilia)
6. Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki)
7. Carlos Checa (Ducati)
8. Jakub Smrz (Ducati)
9. Troy Corser (BMW)
10. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati)
2010 World Superbike Phillip Island Race 2 Results
1. Carlos Checa (Ducati)
2. Leon Haslam (Suzuki) +0.307
3. Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) +0.434
4. Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki)
5. Noriyuki Haga (Ducati)
6. Jonathan Rea (Honda)
7. Troy Corser (BMW)
8. Max Biaggi (Aprilia)
9. Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha)
10. James Toseland (Yamaha)
2010 World Superbike Championship points
1. Leon Haslam 45
2. Michel Fabrizio 36
3. Carlos Checa 34
4. Noriyuki Haga 27
5. Sylvain Guintoli 23
6. Jonathan Rea 23
7. Max Biaggi 19
8. Troy Corser 16
9. Leon Camier 10
10. Lorenzo Lanzi 9
Manufacturer’s points
1. Ducati 45 2. Suzuki 45 3. Honda 23 4. Aprilia 19 5. BMW 16
6. Yamaha 7 7. Kawasaki 3
