Michel Fabrizio took his Ducati Xerox to fourth win of his career and the first win of this World Superbike season in race 1 at Kyalami. The Italian rider took the victory in almost flag to flag race grabbing the lead at the first turn on lap 1.

Fabrizio pushed hard on the first laps opening a big gap between himself and the rest of the grid and would maintain this advantage over Carlos Checa who would take second on his Althea Ducati.

In a processional style race, points leader Leon Haslam took third place, who lost precious time getting bottled up in trying to pass a very tough and defensive riding James Toseland, who almost didn’t get to race this weekend when the circuit doctors examined his swollen neck after Friday’s practice sessions.

Fourth under the chequered flag was Max Biaggi, who first was stuck behind his team mate Leon Camier until lap 9 when from the Aprilia box came the order for Camier to let Biaggi through. Once free from Camier, Biaggi tried to get past Toseland and it took the Italian four laps and once he’d shaken off the pesky Brit, Biaggi tried to hunt down Haslam and despite a race pace that was often under 1′40 is was just too late.

Jonathan Rea despite taking off in 12th produced the best pass of the race, overtaking both Camier and Toseland in one single and spectacular outside pass on lap 21 to finish fifth in the 24 lap race.

Jakub Smrz and Sylvain Guintoli were 9th and 10 respectively, while Luca Scassa took eleventh after passing a fading Troy Corser late in the race. Wild-card Sheridan Morais finished ahead of Ruben Xaus and Shane Byrne.

Noriyuki Haga had another terrible race and finished in 17th place and both Team Pedercini riders did not finish the race.

Kyalami Race 1 Results:

01- Michel Fabrizio – Ducati Xerox Team – Ducati 1198 – 24 laps in 39′48.343
02- Carlos Checa – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 1.098
03- Leon Haslam – Team Suzuki Alstare – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 5.049
04- Max Biaggi – Aprilia Alitalia Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 6.974
05- Jonathan Rea – HANNspree Ten Kate Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 13.710
06- Leon Camier – Aprilia Alitalia Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 13.848
07- James Toseland – Yamaha Sterilgarda Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 16.064
08- Cal Crutchlow – Yamaha Sterilgarda Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 16.231
09- Jakub Smrz – Team Pata B&G Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 16.580
10- Sylvain Guintoli – Team Suzuki Alstare – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 23.100
11- Luca Scassa – Supersonic Racing Team – Ducati 1198 – + 24.561
12- Troy Corser – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 25.504
13- Sheridan Morais – EmTek Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 27.073
14- Ruben Xaus – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 27.273
15- Shane Byrne – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 30.692
16- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX 10R – + 34.008
17- Noriyuki Haga – Ducati Xerox Team – Ducati 1198 – + 35.948
18- Chris Vermeulen – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX 10R – + 44.030
19- Max Neukirchner – HANNspree Ten Kate Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 48.382

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