Crutchlow Wins Battle Of Britain

Paul Carruthers | August 1, 2010

With five pole positions and five podium finishes going into today’s first race at the Silverstone circuit, it’s almost hard to believe that Cal Crutchlow had yet to win a World Superbike race. But he has now. The Sterligarda Yamaha man battled with Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s Jonathan Rea early in the race, then pulled away with some six laps to go to score the first World Superbike win of his career as he led a British one-two-three in his home race.And Crutchlow’s win was also the first of the year for Yamaha, after the team dominated last season with Ben Spies earning the title on his R1.Early on it looked like Rea was in with a chance, the man from Northern Ireland looking for his second win on the season, but pole sitter Crutchlow had other ideas as those two pulled away from the field. Crutchlow made his move on the 12th lap and Rea couldn’t counter.Third place went to Alstare Suzuki’s Leon Haslam, the Brit fighing his way past Ducati Xerox’s Michel Fabrizio to earn the final podium spot. Haslam also gained back a few precious points on World Championship leader Max Biaggi, with the Italian and his Aprilia finishing fifth. Biaggi now leads Haslam by 63 points.Biaggi had his hands full at the end with his teammate Leon Camier, the second Aprilia rider coming up just short to finish sixth after starting well back on the grid.Then came Althea Ducati’s Carlos Checa and Crutchlow’s teammate James Toseland, the pair finishing seventh and eighth. Checa’s teammate Shane Byrne was ninth with BMW’s Troy Corser fading to an eventual 10th.American Roger Lee Hayden crashed out on the first lap on his Pedercini Kawasaki.There were six Brits in the top 10 and five different manufactuers in the top five.

Race One

1.                  Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha)

2.                  Jonathan Rea (Honda)

3.                  Leon Haslam (Suzuki)

4.                  Michael Fabrizio (Ducati)

5.                  Max Biaggi (Aprilia)

6.                  Leon Camier (Aprilia)

7.                  Carlos Checa (Ducati)

8.                  James Toseland (Yamaha)

9.                  Shane Byrne (Ducati)

10.                  Troy Corser (BMW)

 

Paul Carruthers | Editor

Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America's Daily Motorcycle News Source.