World Superbike - Portimao

As you know...American Ben's Pies needed to win both races at this year's final outing to take the World Superbike title in his rookie season. If Spies were to win both races, he would arrive at the end of the season equal on points with current points leader, Nori Haga, but would take the title due to having (way) more race wins. There are several more race finish/points scenarios that would work in Spies' favor, but I was told there'd be no math.

Race 1...Starting from his 11th pole of the year, Spies got a good start, and took all the pretenders around the outside for the lead into turn 1. Biaggi and his Aprilia managed to tuck in behind Spies in 2nd, followed by Shakey Byrne in 3rd. Donde esta senior Haga? Up to 7th from his 10th place start. Spies set the outright lap record on his first flying lap...guess who won the race? Spies and Biaggi put a decent gap on everyone else until the 6th lap, when it happened...Haga tossed it away as he lost the front into the hairpin.

Haga wasn't able to get back on track, which gifted Spies (yeah, he won the race) a 15 point championship lead going into the final race of the year. A few lap later, Honda's Johnny Rea made made his way up into 2nd. Spies crossed the line in 1st, with Rea in 2nd, and Biaggi holding of Byrne for the final spot ont he podium (that'd be 3rd)

Race 2...Despite Haga's race 1 tip over, If Haga managed to win race 2, Spies still needed, roughly, a 6th place finish to nab the title in his rookie season. Lights out, and FastBikes video star, Shane Byrne, gets the whore-shot on his private Duck, with Spies in 2nd. Meanwhile, Haga skipped the extra helping of Sushi over the lunch break, and bolted up to 5th from the grid. At the end of the next lap, Rea took 'The Ben' at the end of the front straight for 2nd. Methinks that Spies did his pre-race math, and was completely aware of who needed to be where so that he could wrap up the title...in addition, Rea ranks equal to Fabrizio in the 'Bonzai' department, so he was happy to usher him through. Safety first.

Much to the distaste of the Ducati bosses, Fabrizio made his way past Haga (he'll be sleeping with the fishes) and Rea too take the lead. Fabreze held on for the win with haga right behind him in 2nd. Rea took 3rd with Byrne in 4th. Spies played it safe and kroozed home in xtreme style in 5th to wrap up his, and Yamaha's', inaugural World SuperBike title. Word.

Final Rider's Standings;

1) Ben Spies - Yamaha - 462

2) Noriyuki Haga - Ducati - 456

3) Michel Fabrizio - Ducati - 382

4) Max Biaggi - Aprilia - 319

5) Johnny Rea - Honda - 315

There ya go...game, set, match. Spies, and his title, are off to the Yamaha Tex-Trois MotoGP team to bang-up with Edwards next season. Spies will even be 'wildcarding' during the final race of the 2009 MotoGP season on the Yamaha MotoGP bike at Valencia next week. Next season, current MotoGP flunkout, James Toseland, will take The Ben's spot on the factory R-Series Yamaha alongside 2009 World Supersport champeem, Cal Crutchlow in next year's Yamaha WorldSuperbike effort.

T...out.