The Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider, second before the event, 29 points behind series leader and newly-crowned champion James Toseland, was pipped to the second step on the championship rostrum by Nori Haga, who won both races today and finished just two points behind Toseland.

In race one, Biaggi fought his way up to sixth place after ending the first lap 15th after luckily avoiding a first corner incident involving Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) and James Toseland (Honda). And in race two, he took runner-up spot after a tremendous battle with Troy Corser (Yamaha).

Max Neukirchner, deputising for the injured Yukio Kagayama, was on course for a podium in race one until he was forced wide after tangling with Troy Bayliss (Ducati). He recovered to take fourth position. In race two, he was beginning his charge up the field, but crashed out on the sixth lap.

Max Biaggi:

"It has been a bit of a strange day all round. In race one I was lucky not to get caught up in Lanzi's crash, but I lost a lot of places avoiding the mess and was only 15th at the end of the first lap. I fought as hard as I could, but it was impossible to catch the leaders. I was very disappointed with my sixth place because I knew it should have been much better. Race two was a hard race but at least I was fighting with the leaders. Troy Corser and I had a great fight and touched a couple of times, but that is normal Superbike racing. I have liked my Superbike experience and it has been good to race against many strong riders. "

Max Neukirchner:

"My debut with this team has generally been very good indeed. I have enjoyed riding this bike and today - well the first race anyway - was great fun. If Bayliss had not forced me wide it's possible that I could've made a podium. But racing is like that sometimes. I was pushing hard in race two but lost the front at one of the left-handers and crashed. It was a disappointing end to what has been a great weekend for me."

WSB Results:

Race 1: 1 Haga (J-Yamaha), 2 Bayliss (AUS-Ducati), 3 Corser (AUS-Yamaha), 4 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 5 Nieto (E-Kawasaki), 6 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 7 Toseland (GB-Honda), 8 Xaus (E-Ducati), 9 Laconi (F-Kawasaki), 10 Rolfo (I-Honda).

Race 2: 1 Haga (J-Yamaha), 2 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 3 Nieto (E-Kawasaki), 4 Corser (AUS-Yamaha), 5 Bayliss (AUS-Ducati), 6 Toseland (GB-Honda) 7 Rolfo (I-Honda), 8 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 9 Fabrizio (I-Honda), 10 Xaus (E-Ducati). DNF: Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra).


Final WSB Points: 1 Toseland (GB-Honda) 415, 2 Haga (J-Yamaha) 413, 3 Max Biaggi (I-Alstare Suzuki corona Extra) 397, 4 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 372, 5 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 296, 6 Xaus (E-Ducati) 201. 9 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 149. 13 Yukio Kagayama (J-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 116.