Haga defiant, despite injury.

Noriyuki Haga signalled his intentions to race on this weekend after hauling himself into the top ten during Superpole, despite competing with a freshly fractured collarbone.

Defying initial reports that he would be forced to sit out the remainder of the weekend after suffering a heavy crash in second qualifying, Haga not only made it back out on track but scored spot on the third row in the process.

Haga, Broken Collar Bone, USA WSBK 2008
Haga, Broken Collar Bone, USA WSBK 2008
© Gold and Goose

Noriyuki Haga signalled his intentions to race on this weekend after hauling himself into the top ten during Superpole, despite competing with a freshly fractured collarbone.

Defying initial reports that he would be forced to sit out the remainder of the weekend after suffering a heavy crash in second qualifying, Haga not only made it back out on track but scored spot on the third row in the process.

A remarkable achievement for the Yamaha rider, who was the first to go out in Superpole, Haga was more concerned about his loss of track time than the injury that had required him to make a visit to the local hospital.

Even so, Haga, who is third in the standings, does admit to feeling rather apprehensive about the prospect of two gruelling 21-lap races around one of the most relentless circuits on the calendar.

"We lost a lot of time after my crash in morning practice but I went out in Superpole and we got tenth. We are behind in the set-up but to set a 1'49 in Superpole with my injury was not so bad.

"The races are 21 laps so I am not sure how we will do. We have been doing a few laps at a time, so to do the full distance, and in hot conditions, we will just have to see how we go. I will be racing I just need to see how I am tomorrow before the start."

Haga's achievement was also praised by Yamaha Motor Italia WSB manager Massimo Meregalli, although he has decided to make the more conservative claim of 'waiting and seeing' with regards to whether Haga can race.

"It's difficult to find words to say about Nori today because he did something that nobody was expecting. He improved his time and grid position in Superpole, all with a broken collarbone only a few hours old, so what can we say? He wants to race tomorrow and we will see how things are then."

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