Carter: Haga is a lucky man

Eurosport - Tue, 30 Jun 10:20:00 2009

British Eurosport presenter Tony Carter says Noriyuki Haga escaped lightly from his horrible crash at Donington.

2009 Noriyuki Haga - 0

At the time of writing, Noriyuki Haga has been given the all clear over the suspected broke back he suffered in the second World Superbike race at Donington Park.

It appears that, providing the subsequent tests needed to be further carried out at the Derby Royal Infirmary are OK, Nori escaped with 'only' a broken arm, a possible fracture of his shoulder blade, cuts and scrapes and a collection of bruises that run the full range of colours from black to blue.

It will seem like a strange thing to say if you're not a biker, it will probably seem very strange if you're a biker but have never highsided a bike at high speed - but Nori got away lightly.

I've written here before about the moment you part company with your bike in a crash, the next few seconds are a lottery and anything can happen. The sheer fear that floods your body the moment you realise you've lost control is often followed by the split second of silence, then the rush of pain of the impact on the floor and the confusion and sickening tumble afterwards.

It's horrible, and that crash that Nori suffered as he was just getting on the gas at the second Coppice apex was horrible.

But it was the way the Ducati bounced along on top of the rider, smashing into him as he rolled and tumbled along the floor that looked most horrible. Nori could have been hurt so much more badly then he was. Lucky fella.

So, with just under a month to go until the next round, Haga may just manage to repair in time for Brno and round 10.

And what this does do is underline, once again, how easily a seemingly huge points advantage in a WSB championship year can be eroded. 72 points at one time split Ben Spies and Haga. Some people were falling over themselves to pronounce the series a foregone conclusion.

Going into the Donington race the gap was 48 points, leaving it the gap is now down to 14. No, Ben would not have wanted Nori to crash and be hurt, but this is racing and these things do happen.

So, with four rounds to go, we're down to just 14 points splitting the best WSB riders in the world. Eight more races to go. It's going all the way to the wire...

Tony Carter / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. nori-san hope you heal quickly, and hope to see you on­ two wheels again soon, keep it shiney side up, you have­ a lot of brittish fans who wish you well.

    From elizabeth, on Mon 6 Jul 10:31AM

  2. Shut up comment #1 - ur a fool. I hope Nori wins this­ year - he's paid his dues - Go Nitro Nori!

    From littlee.69123, on Sun 5 Jul 2:07PM

  3. Re comment 1, get a real life you,re no bike fan

    From alienkab, on Sat 4 Jul 11:39PM

  4. just get well nori,all your british fans love you,and­ hope that this is your year.you were cruely treated by­ everyone,when the championship was taken away.STAY­ SAFE,god bless you.
    ­ JUNE.

    From j, on Wed 1 Jul 10:30PM

  5. Well Said!! Not sure why it is but if it involves­ Haga, TC deems him lucky. When it involves Spies, TC­ deems him unlucky. A bit bias maybe? I think the pair­ of them have made mistakes so far this year, and both­ have had bad luck also. I do fear that even if fit,­ Haga's Duke is not progressing in the developement­ area like the Yamaha is. Therefore Spies has plenty of­ reasons to be very happy, what with the end to the­ championship in sight. But that little terrier Nori­ won't go down without a fight, so there is still­ much to play for.

    From pipanddawn, on Wed 1 Jul 8:29PM

  6. I wouldn't call it lucky to have a crash that might­ very well cost you your best chance of ever winning a­ world championship, that may leave you with injuries­ that limit your movement and leave you with permanent­ damage!!! I feel that just because he didn't die­ or wasn't crippled that TC has down played the­ extent of this crash!!! Even if he 'recovers'­ in time for the next round the injuries will not be­ fully healed as no break of bones can reknit itself in­ such a short time frame!!!! Therefore he'll be­ riding injured, with a weakened upper body, weaker­ muscles trying to fight for a world championship­ wrestling a rather weighty machine about for several­ laps!!!! Now judging by a previous Carter blog about­ Karl Muggeridge he'll no doubt put Haga on the same­ plain, however, I for one would rather not see a man­ risk even further serious injury in the name of sport,­ but to rest, heal up and fight another day on an even­ keel!!! Ok, to do that may just hand the title to­ Spies, but better that than end up crippled or worse!!!­ Especially with Noriuki's riding style and­ fearsome will to win!!!! It's those traits that­ makes him endearing to the fans but at the same time­ prone to crashing and possible injury!!! Now I know­ that anyone who has read my 'rants' about TC on­ here may think I'm just picking fault with the man­ for the sake of it, but i'd just like to say that­ he was far better in the studio on Sunday and the­ atmosphere more relaxd than i've seen for a long­ time!!! His interaction with James and Chris was­ superb and at no point did I cringe for a change!!! ­ I've no doubt TC has been a fine journalist in the­ past, but I feel that his blogs need some more thought­ before he puts them 'to press'!!! Mind you, so­ might my responses!!!

    From Gareth, on Wed 1 Jul 11:57AM

  7. I hope Nori's back in time for Brno and most­ importantly, that he doesn't fall again before his­ body's properly healed. I also hope he doesn't­ come across this stupid article calling him lucky!

    From Chemical Ali, on Wed 1 Jul 12:13AM

  8. I wish Nori Haga all the very best and a swift­ recovery.

    From Only Human After All, on Tue 30 Jun 10:01AM

  9. gsxr why don't you kill yourself. Please. Then we­ can have one less @#$% in the gene pool.

    From Odd Thomas, on Tue 30 Jun 9:35AM

  10. commnet number one why dont go to the ducati garge and­ tell them to their face, or write to them ? u wasteman­ bet u cnt even ride a minimoto. stupid toilet cleaner,­ no offence to toilet cleaners.
    at least his at home­ healing knowing his got more talent and money and­ success than you have.

    From vale46, on Mon 29 Jun 10:11PM

  11. Nori-san,mend quickly, best regards, Roy-san.

    From Roy M, on Mon 29 Jun 9:53PM

  12. gsxr! I have one too, change your name and dont use the­ motorcycle to talk like a @#$%.

    From farrow118, on Mon 29 Jun 9:12PM

  13. gsxr, I can see your point about Ducati, but this is­ Haga, the 'dogs borrocks' we want this­ championship to be exciting, without anyone getting­ seriously hurt, so lay off, and think of a nice­ post.....

    From achilles, on Mon 29 Jun 7:10PM

  14. why, ben wouldnt want that to happen. Ben spes wants to­ win the title as the best rider in world­ superbike.

    tio do that you have to beat the top riders­ on the track, not hope they get hurt.

    From norfolk_aprilia, on Mon 29 Jun 6:41PM

  15. Anybody who wants to see or hopes for someone to crash­ just isn't a biker and should stick to watching­ Nascar. Get Well Soon Nitro Nori

    From engadamotorcycles, on Mon 29 Jun 4:00PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ben may not wanted to see Nori crash, but I was hoping­ that exact thing as it happened. There is a­ motorcycling GOD. Anything that hurts Ducati's­ title hopes is fair game by me. Too many years of­ getting the rules in their favor....

    From Jim, on Mon 29 Jun 3:44PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account