Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner has taken his maiden world superbike win at Monza this afternoon but was made to fight tooth and nail for it by Yamaha's Noriyuki Haga.
The German was involved in a four-way dice for the lead from the time the lights went out. Troy Bayliss and Yukio Kagayama were in the mix for the whole 18-lap race and the lead four quickly dropped the Sterilgarda Ducatis of Ruben Xaus and Max Biaggi.
Kagayama took the holeshot with Bayliss in second but the first chicane, as usual, caused everyone problems. Haga and Corser touched, which set the Aussie back, and Carlos Checa found himself mid-pack on the exit.
The leading four swopped places until the mid-point when Kagayama made one of four trips across the green asphalt, shuffling the pack around. Neukirchner and Kagayama had a big speed advantage on the two long straights, which made it difficult for Bayliss and Haga to make any slipstream passes.
As the lead four tripped each other up, Biaggi and Xaus began to cut into their lead until the Spaniard had a massive highside on the Parabolica but got up and walked away. Biaggi held station until Kagayama again cut across the chicane.
With six laps to go, Haga and Neukirchner looked to be dropping Bayliss and Kagayama was on his way back to the leaders. Haga was losing rear grip but able to keep with the Suzuki.
As Haga and Neukirchner danced around each other, Bayliss and Kagayama got back on terms but it was too late. Haga was effectively riding pillion on Neukirchner's Suzuki and was looking for a tow across the line. The German got good drive out of the Parabolica and crossed the line just six onehundredths of a second in front. Bayliss took third with Kagayama fourth.
Results:
1 2 76 M.NEUKIRCHNER GER Team Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 18 1'46.307 322,7 1'45.287 323,7 25 91 5
2 3 41 N.HAGA JPN Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 18 0.058 1'45.882 317,0 1'45.665 314,3 20 87 6
3 1 21 T. BAYLISS AUS Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 18 0.672 1'46.321 318,0 1'44.931 316,1 16 194 1
4 5 34 Y. KAGAYAMA JPN Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 18 0.771 1'46.219 317,0 1'45.777 316,1 13 54 9
5 9 3 M.BIAGGI ITA Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 18 3.869 1'46.112 314,3 1'46.039 312,5 11 65 8
6 8 23 R. KIYONARI JPN Hannspree Ten Kate HondaHonda CBR1000RR 18 5.995 1'46.596 318,0 1'45.975 319,8 10 49 11
7 7 10 F. NIETO ESP Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 18 8.788 1'46.448 318,9 1'45.942 313,4 9 94 3
8 4 7 C. CHECA ESP Hannspree Ten Kate HondaHonda CBR1000RR 18 9.374 1'46.362 318,9 1'45.766 317,0 8 116 2
9 13 84 M.FABRIZIO ITA Ducati Xerox Team Ducati 1098 F08 18 10.667 1'46.679 315,2 1'46.533 318,0 7 44 13
10 15 96 J. SMRZ CZE Guandalini Racing by Grifo'sDucati 1098 RS 08 18 10.771 1'46.653 320,8 1'46.749 314,3 6 41 14
11 16 36 G.LAVILLA ESP Ventaxia VK Honda Honda CBR1000RR 18 12.180 1'46.584 309,8 1'47.107 316,1 5 53 10
12 12 11 T. CORSER AUS Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Yamaha YZF-R1 18 14.719 1'46.701 314,3 1'46.496 315,2 4 93 4
13 17 38 S. NAKATOMI JPN YZF Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 18 32.734 1'47.206 315,2 1'46.944 315,2 3 12 20
14 23 57 L. LANZI ITA R.G. Team Ducati 1098 RS 08 18 36.550 1'48.240 310,7 1'48.523 309,8 2 44 12
15 19 194 S. GIMBERT FRA Yamaha France Ipone GMTY 9a4maha YZF-R1 18 36.607 1'48.040 304,5 1'47.669 302,8 1 4 23
16 22 83 R. HOLLAND AUS D.F. Racing - Bertocchi Honda CBR1000RR 18 52.464 1'48.373 320,8 1'48.390 320,8 10 21
17 24 22 L. MORELLI ITA Alto Evolution Honda SuperbHiokenda CBR1000RR 18 56.929 1'48.839 302,8 1'48.531 305,4
18 21 88 S. AOYAMA JPN Alto Evolution Honda SuperbHiokenda CBR1000RR 18 1'27.543 1'49.405 311,6 1'48.144 310,7
19 28 49 M.BECK USA Yamaha France Ipone GMTY 9a4maha YZF-R1 18 1'28.342 1'50.806 300,3 1'50.859 298,6
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RET 14 100 M.TAMADA JPN Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 16 2 Laps 1'46.820 315,2 1'46.549 311,6 28 15
RET 25 110 L. MAURI ITA Spring Ducati ASD Ducati 999 RS 14 4 Laps 1'49.738 311,6 1'48.768 313,4
RET 20 13 V. IANNUZZO ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 13 5 Laps 1'48.096 309,8 1'48.110 308,0
RET 18 86 A. BADOVINI ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 8 10 Laps 1'47.174 309,8 1'47.301 309,8 3 24
RET 6 111 R. XAUS ESP Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati 1098 RS 08 7 11 Laps 1'46.342 316,1 1'45.795 321,8 81 7
RET 11 55 R. LACONI FRA Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki ZX-10R 3 15 Laps 1'47.950 298,6 1'46.216 308,9 21 18
RET 27 77 L. NAPOLEONE FRA Grillini PBR Team Yamaha YZF-R1 1 17 Laps 90,6 1'50.113 305,4
RET 10 31 K. MUGGERIDGE AUS D.F. Racing Honda CBR1000RR 0 1'46.065 322,7 25 17