Sterilgarda Ducati endured a difficult weekend in Australia with Max Biaggi, despite showing searing pace, not scoring a single point after two crashes, but
Ruben Xaus consolidating a top three championship position.
Biaggi's qualifying position of 16th was not his fault as his gearlever fell off, but the race crashes were down to his desire to overcome the deficit as quickly as possible - and leave him well down in the championship.
In race one, the Italian fought his way through the pack in great style and was closing on race leader Troy Bayliss when he lost the front end of his 1098 into MG corner and crashed out.
I had the speed to do well in the first race, he said, but I lost the front end at the slow-speed hairpin, falling to the ground unexpectedly!
Biaggi's start was better in the second race and he was up with the leaders quickly, after making some incisive moves. However, as he drafted
Fonsi Nieto into the high-speed turn one, the unthinkable happened.
I was really near Nieto, he explained, He braked early, so I had to downshift, but the shifter was quite notchy and I lost control of the machine, falling to the ground again. But the biggest problem was the 16th position on the starting grid due to the hitch occurring yesterday in Superpole.
Biaggi suffered a suspected broken wrist in the second race crash - which saw him catapulted from the saddle and across the grass run-off area, the Sterilgarda bike narrowly missing its pilot as it completed its own flight - and will be forced to miss the WSBK test at Valencia later in March.
Xaus was a little happier, but disappointed not to get onto the podium despite showing good pace in both races. His results keep him in touch in the championship, however, albeit just under 30 points behind
Troy Bayliss.
I achieved two good results, very precious for the championship positions, said the Barcelona man, I didn't want to take a chance today as the next two rounds will take place on two tracks where I got my best results last year.
