Haga ponders drive-thru, loses record.

I never saw any jump start. Total bullocks. In fact I just re-checked on sbk tv at 28 mins when the start is, and there is no noticeable movement at all. It is my understanding that you cannot cross the start line in front of your bike until the red lights go out, and that did not happen.

Too bad that it and a gearbox failure in race 1 meant a dissapointing end to Haga's Yamaha career and handed Troy Corser second in the championship on a plate, ahead of Haga.

It will be interesting at least to see test times in a day or two though.

It will be interesting, but Haga doesn't normally test well - he saves his effort for race day.

Rules is rules and unfortunately if you move AT ALL (no matter if you then stop) you are judged to have jumped the start
and receive a penalty. It's crap, but that's the same for everyone. It would have been nice to see a race with Haga and Corser.

Hi

Out of interest, did Haga ever give reasons for not coimg in at Donington? I don't live on here or MCN, so it's more than likely I missed an article, but I lost a lot of respect for him after that and I'd like to know whether that is fair or not.

Cheers

Julian

In a word, no.
He is also reported as having revved the bike in the paddock till it blew the engine when he did eventually come in. (According to Naill Mackenzie) Much to the annoyance of Jack Valentine and others who were livid that he had ignored the flags and spread oil around 2/3rds of the track.

Like you, I lost alot of respect for him for that display of petulence. He ought to know better than that. Corser wasn't happy
when he found out it was Haga's oil he crashed on...

Hmmm. Thanks for that. I guess petulance can always come to the surface in the best of us, but most of us aren't playing with other peoples lives/careers/bones etc at 150mph! At the very least I'd have expected some kind of public contrition. Especially after what, 12 or so years in WSBK and GP.

I have just watched in slow mo on the start and Haga does (very slightly) creep forward over his line before the lights go out. Petty maybe but the rules r the same 4 everyone as Buell has said so he can winge if he likes but **** happens dwal with.

I have lost a lot of respect for Haga this year, he has been very bullish and self rightoues the donington sharade was a case in point. Bayliss will be a tough act to follow and IMOP haga is not upto the job. Great on his day but he only gets 5-6 of those a season and he will need to have alot more of those!!. I wish him luck and I hope he is more like himself with Ducati than this year on the Yam!!

Also, was it just me or were some of the overtakes he pulled yesterday a bit stiff? I'm thinking of the ones on Cal Crutchlow and Leon Haslam where both ended up going off track and losing a lot of places.
Clean maybe, harsh definitely.

buelliful,

Christ, I agree what Haga did was deplorable at Donny, but to now criticize his passes on Haslam and Crutchlow smacks of blind patriotism. Had either done the same to Haga you'd probably be losing your mind and saying stuff like: "Well done Tom and Leon - awesome passes sticking it to a WSB regular in proper hard fashion on a factory bike and showing him what for!"

I think the whole grid were very het up on sunday, as right from the off there were some 'proper' moves going on.. But this is one of the reason why SBK has kicked GP's **** this year as they are full people like dovi moaning about 'Aggressive' riding which is nothing more than riding close in his book.. looking forward to 09 if that was the sign of things to come!!

Cem, I have to disagree with you on that one. I am not infering that because he pulled those moves on two British guys that this is the reason I am mentioning it.
Had those moves been from Leon OR Cal I'd have said the same and I am certainly not "blindly patriotic" I did afterall state in an earlier post here that all the "new" British guys need to learn how to use their tyres better as all have a habit of ruining them early in a race (as has been proven in most BSB races this year).

Johnny Rea was all over the place especially in race 1, constantly outbraking himself and running wide of his own accord.