Monday Jun 29  2009  Donington

At 5pm this afternoon Ducati Xerox rider Noriyuki Haga underwent successful surgery at the Derby City Hospital. Having fractured the ulna in his right arm in yesterday’s crash at Donington Park, Noriyuki today had a plate and screws inserted to set the bone. The surgical team deemed the surgery a success and there were no unforeseen complications.

Prior to the operation, medical staff took a closer look at his right shoulder blade and an x-ray unfortunately confirmed that he has multiple fractures to his left scapula. The scapula will not necessitate surgical intervention and the bone should knit itself back together in time; this complication should not prolong Noriyuki’s recovery time. The Japanese rider should be discharged from hospital tomorrow (Tuesday) and he and his family will fly back to Italy so that Noriyuki can begin the necessary physiotherapy treatment.

The Ducati Xerox rider will not participate in the next tests at Imola but it is foreseen that he will compete in the next round at Brno.

Derby (UK), Monday 29^th June: Noriyuki Haga, Ducati Xerox Team rider and current leader of the World Superbike Championship, was transported to the Emergency department of Derby City Hospital by helicopter at about 5pm yesterday afternoon, after having been victim of a massive high-side during Race 2 at Donington Park.

The Japanese rider, accompanied by doctors from the Clinica Mobile, was seen by Doctor Rajan and once extensive tests and un urgent CAT scan were carried out, Dr. Rajan declared that the fracture to one of the vertebrae that had shown up on the X-ray taken at the circuit’s Medical Centre was actually a very old fracture and must have been caused during another much earlier incident, years previously. This fracture has, over time, sealed without medical intervention and doesn’t present a problem.

After a stable night in the Pre-Op assessment ward of Derby City Hospital, Noriyuki Haga will undergo surgery this afternoon to insert a plate and screws in his right forearm, to set a fracture to the right ulna. He is continuing to experience pain in the left shoulder blade, and so although no serious damage has yet been detected, doctors will investigate further to understand the cause of the pain.

The only injury needing immediate treatment at this time is the broken ulna. If the surgery is deemed a success, and there are no complications regarding his shoulder blade, Noriyuki should be able to return home to Italy in the next two days and the Ducati Xerox Team does not currently exclude the possibility of Noriyuki’s return to the track in time for the next round in the Czech Republic, on the 26^th July at Brno.

Donington Park (UK), Sunday 28th June: with the third place finish achieved in Race 1 at Donington Park today, Noriyuki Haga becomes the third rider in Superbike history to have obtained 100 podiums.

Haga's 100th podium (pic: Ducati Corse Press)

Unfortunately in race 2 Haga was victim of a serious crash in which he has suffered a fracture of one of the spinal vertebrae. He has been transferred this afternoon to Derby hospital where the medical team will further evaluate the situation.

In the first race Noriyuki made a strong start and found himself in third position behind Spies and Biaggi. When the leading two began to pull away the Japanese rider did all he could to stick with them but the gap increased and Noriyuki rode a lonely last few laps. His team-mate Michel lost a few position at the start and found it subsequently difficult to make up the lost ground, mainly due to a technical problem with the gears. Losing further positions in the final phase of the race, Fabrizio was however able to collect three points, finishing in twelfth place.

In Race 2 Nakano and Rea crashed out early on, leaving Fabrizio a small advantage; in the initial laps the Italian rider progressed from ninth to third position. Despite Byrne’s defensive riding, Michel finally managed to pass him after nineteen laps, maintaining third position as far as the chequered flag.

Noriyuki made another good start and was in second place by the end of the first lap, but on the fourth lap he suffered a bad fall while entering Coppice Corner. He was immediately transferred to the track’s medical centre where the doctors declared a fracture of one of his vertebrae. At this point it was decided to move him by helicopter to Derby hospital where he will receive further medical attention.

Noriyuki ha finished on the podium in thirteen of the eighteen races run so far, Michel in eleven; with today’s results, the Ducati Xerox team continue their 100% podium record.
Noriyuki is only the third ever rider in Superbike history to score 100 podiums; only Corser with 128 and Fogarty with 109 have achieved more. Of the 100 podiums, 39 have been race wins.
Haga continues to lead the championship, holding 308 points ahead of Spies with 294 and Fabrizio with 257. Ducati leads the constructor’s classification with 383 points to Yamaha’s 337.

Haga in action at Donnington (pic Ducati Corse Press)

Noriyuki Haga (Race 1 –3rd, Race 2 – DNF)
Race 1: “I’m very happy to have made the podium today because we knew it would be a very difficult weekend. I am proud to have reached the 100 podium mark! At the start of Race 1 I did all I could to stick with Max and Ben but, even though I was pushing, today they seemed to have a small advantage and I was unable to do better than third.”

Race 2: Haga, after today’s accident, was unavailable for comment at time of print.

Michel Fabrizio (Race 1 – 12th, Race 2 – 3rd)
“Race 1 was very difficult, I had a problem with the gears and because of this I lost several positions. I couldn’t do much to improve the situation and in the end I could only bring home three points.

Before Race 2 we decided to go out with the second bike. I again made a bad start but immediately started to work to regain ground. I spent most of the race battling it out against Byrne and Haslam, just managing to pass Shakey near the end. I’m happy with my race 2 result but I am of course sorry for Nori. I saw the accident and it reminded me of Troy’s crash in the same place two years ago, both serious.”

RESULTS: Race 1 – 1. Spies (Yamaha); 2. Biaggi (Aprilia); 3. Haga (Ducati Xerox); Race 2 – 1. Spies (Yamaha); 2. Haslam (Honda); 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox)

CLASSIFICATION: Riders– 1. Haga (Ducati Xerox) 308; 2. Spies (Yamaha) 294; 3. Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) 257; 4. Rea (Honda) 177; 5. Haslam (Honda) 167; 6. Biaggi (Aprilia) 155.

Manufacturers – Ducati 383; Yamaha 337; Honda 273; Aprilia 162; Suzuki 131; BMW 70; Kawasaki 47

The eighth round of this year’s Superbike World Championship at Misano was another weekend of frustration and disappointment for Troy Corser.  He didn’t even get to start the first race, due to highsiding on the warm-up lap, and struggled with his bike in race two and ended 19th. Click to continue »

It was a stunning bounce back after the 22-year-old was dogged by bad luck in the opening 24-lap encounter at the 4.2km Misano circuit. In wet conditions, Rea’s number one machine developed a fuel problem on the sighting lap and he was given a ride back to the pits by his Ten Kate team-mate, Ryuichi Kiyonari. Click to continue »

Misano (Italy) Sunday 21st June: Ducati Xerox riders Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga rode a stressful 24–lap first race at the Misano World Circuit today, in which “flag-to-flag” rules were implemented due to the wet track conditions at the race start. Click to continue »