2010 Magny-Cours World Superbike Race 1 Results - Easy Victory And Huge Battle For Podium Spots

Results and summary of WSBK Race 1 at Magny-Cours:

Cal Crutchlow has taken victory in the first World Superbike race of the day at Magny-Cours, walking away from a chasing pack to win unchallenged. A last-corner attack saw Leon Haslam make his way past Max Biaggi to take 2nd, which also allowed Checa through on Biaggi to snatch 3rd. With the championship already settled last time weekend at Imola, the result did not matter quite so much to Biaggi.

The Aprillia rider had got the holeshot off the line, but soon found himself engaged in a battle with Crutchlow, Alstare Suzuki's Sylvain Guintoli and Xerox Ducati's Michel Fabrizio. Biaggi seemed to be sneaking away at the front, while the chasing group spent their time scrapping over 2nd, but once Crutchlow settled that fight in his favor, the Sterilgarda Yamaha soon chased down Biaggi and then passed. Crutchlow went on to take victory uncontested, nobody capable of matching the young Briton's pace.

The fight for 2nd was much tougher, and went down all the way to the final chicane. Once Crutchlow was past, Biaggi fell back into the clutches of the chasing group, consisting of Carlos Checa, Leon Haslam, Sylvain Guintoli and Michel Fabrizio. Biaggi looked the best of the bunch, though the lead of the group changed several times, and the newly-crowned 2010 WSBK champion looked like holding off any challenges to the line. But Haslam was out for revenge, to make up for his loss at Imola. Haslam pushed all the way to the line, passing Biaggi several times, though the Italian always managed to get back ahead of the Alstare Suzuki.

Haslam was left with one last chance, which he seized with both hands. Diving up the inside of Biaggi going into the final chicane, he got past the Italian, forcing him wide at the same time and allowing Carlos Checa past to take 3rd behind Haslam. Biaggi was forced to settle for 4th, ahead of Jakub Smrz and Michel Fabrizio.

Sylvain Guintoli actually crossed the line ahead of Smrz and Fabrizio, but the Frenchman was scrapped from the result after ignoring a ride-through and then a black flag. Guintoli was punished for passing Fabrizio over the inside of the kerbing, but as he had immediately given back the position, he had not thought anything more of it, and not looked at his pit board or the officials holding the black flag. Race Direction later accepted his failure to observe either the ride through or the black flag was not intentional, and merely fined the Frenchman. He will ride in the second WSBK race later this afternoon.

Results: