Spies crowned world champion in Portimao

Eurosport - Sun, 25 Oct 12:55:00 2009

Ben Spies will go to MotoGP as the new World Superbike Champion after finishing fifth and securing the title in the final race of the season at Portimao.

Ben Spies - 0

Having dominated the opening race to open out a 15 point advantage over Noriyuki Haga heading into the decider, the American produced a comparatively tentative performance to simply ride for the chequered flag in fifth place.

Finishing within where he needed to, regardless of where Haga finished, the Ducati rider rallied hard in the latter stages to finish in second, but it wasn't enough to deny Spies, the two rivals and friends concluding their epic season-long battle separated by just six points.

An outstanding weekend for Yamaha having secured the MotoGP and World Supersport titles on the same day, Spies' win is also a first for the Japanese manufacturer at World Superbike level.

The race itself was won by Haga's team-mate Michel Fabrizio, who passed Jonathan Rea on the final lap. The Northern Irishman would go on to make a further mistake to slip behind Haga too. Shane Byrne finished fourth, ahead of Spies and Max Biaggi.

World Superbike highlights on Sunday 25 October at 5.45pm on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Crash.net / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 11 of 11

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  1. WELL, HAGA DROPPED AN 88 POINT LEAD HE HAD MID-SEASON!!­
    A WORTHY WORLD CHAMPION WOULD NEVER LOSE SUCH AN­ ADVANTAGE..
    CONGRATS BEN!!

    From Vítor, on Mon 26 Oct 10:31AM

  2. Hard luck Nori?......sorry to disagree but he bottled­ it!, you could see him 2nd race just before the start­ ,real shame etc etc .But l should think that David T­ was not a happy camper with both his riders!

    From Kevin, on Mon 26 Oct 2:45AM

  3. Nobody liked my comment at the beginning of the season,­ but one Texan to another, CONGRATULATIONS BEN! Haga­ also had a hell of a season, good job to you too. ­ Yeah, finally score one for the Americans.

    From Rocker2277, on Sun 25 Oct 8:48PM

  4. British eurosport may be a reason to move back to­ england.On the usually more civilised side of the­ english channel,we just saw edited higlights of the 1st­ race and supersport race,and didn't see the post­ race interviews because of(believe it or not in the­ UK)under 17s football!

    From andy, on Sun 25 Oct 8:19PM

  5. Totally agree with all the comments about British­ Eurosports coverage of all the championships,­ excellent. I have seen all the races so far for each­ championship, and will look forward to the last GP. BBC­ certainly do consider it a second rate sport, in fact­ all terrestrial channels do, and have far too much­ coverage of football which I just can't stick. With­ the BBC you get no trailers, and very little mention of­ the results on the sports news despite having 4 Brits­ in Motogp, and most of it resigned to the digital­ gimmic channels on the red button where few know when­ and what is being shown. So much for the BRITISH­ Broadcasting Corporation.
    I hope Eurosport has the same­ level of coverage next year and in the future, and­ regains the rights to show all Motogp live. After all,­ Eurosport got Motogp to the level it is now. I've­ yet to hear whether they have any coverage. Lets hope­ so. Well done Eurosport.

    From Trevor, on Sun 25 Oct 7:46PM

  6. Totally agree with you jgpy.
    Not a mention on of bike­ results on any BBC sports media programmes.
    Never­ mentioned on 5 live !!! all i hear about is football.­ God its so boring, how many times do we have to listen­ to managers saying we must UP OUR GAME. Admit boys your­ @#$%!!!!
    I know the BBC dont have the franchise rights­ but at least mention it ( that is motoGP, WSB and­ BSB.)
    This years racing has been the best. Staying up­ to watch at 1.00am has been a pleasure.
    Well done­ Eurosport.
    BBC get a grip.

    From Marc, on Sun 25 Oct 7:24PM

  7. Congratulations to Eurosport for this season's WSB­ coverage, it's been superb. Let's hope you­ continue the coverage and to get MotoGP back in­ real-time for next season and not 1 hr behind. BBC has­ been its usual naff coverage, all the pre-season hype­ that it was at the forefront of its coverage and ...­ not a single mention on their sports news bulletins­ throughout the season, typical BBC they're just so­ arrogant in their presentation, I'm sure they still­ consider it a second-rate sport.

    From jgpy, on Sun 25 Oct 5:42PM

  8. Hard luck Nori,the world championship eluded you once­ again,you deserved the title,but alas it wasnt to­ be.Pity about the first race,you would of had it in the­ bag.But congrats has to go to Ben on winning the­ title,good luck in Moto GP next season.Welcome back to­ WSB james for next season.

    From johnnyreb2, on Sun 25 Oct 5:40PM

  9. Hard luck Nori, I was SO hoping that you would reap­ your rewards for so much grit and determination over­ the years but you obviously have come up against one of­ THOSE special riders but full marks to Spies for what­ he has achieved !! It has been a thoroughly­ entertaining and hard-fought season (again), so thanks­ to all teams and riders for what they have produced for­ us.
    - Richard B.

    From richardbutland, on Sun 25 Oct 4:53PM

  10. well done to BEN nuf said

    From glyn689, on Sun 25 Oct 4:52PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I weep for Haga, no-one deserved this title­ more....good riddance Spies...Welcome back James....

    From achilles, on Sun 25 Oct 4:50PM
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