2009 Superbike World Championship Explained

The 2009 Superbike World Championship was the twenty-second season of the Superbike World Championship. It was the second season in which HANNspree had been the title sponsor of the championship.^[1] The South African round returned on 15–17 May at Kyalami for first time since the 2002 season that the Superbike World Championship had raced there; other changes in the calendar were the return of Imola after a two-season absence as the replacement for Vallelunga and the discontinuation of Brands Hatch as one of the British venues.^[2]

The season saw the revision of the Superpole system, as the single-lap format was replaced by a three-part knockout system: after two timed qualifying sessions, the twenty fastest riders were admitted to Superpole 1, then the first sixteen SP1 riders progressed to Superpole 2 and the first eight SP2 riders contested Superpole 3, which finally awarded the pole position.^{[3] [4]} In addition, changing bike during a race (also known as flag-to-flag) was allowed in order to avoid interruptions caused by variable weather conditions.^{[3] [4]}

Ben Spies won the championship in his rookie season, bettering Noriyuki Haga in a final round decider. Ducati were the winners of the manufacturers' championship, winning eleven races.

Race calendar and results

Round		Country	Circuit	Date	Superpole	Fastest lap	Winning rider	Winning team	Report
1	R1		Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit	1 March	Ben Spies	Troy Corser	Noriyuki Haga	Ducati Xerox Team	Report
	R2					Noriyuki Haga	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB
2	R1		Losail International Circuit	14 March	Ben Spies	Noriyuki Haga	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB	Report
	R2					Ben Spies	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB
3	R1		Circuit Ricardo Tormo	5 April	Ben Spies	Noriyuki Haga	Noriyuki Haga	Ducati Xerox Team	Report
	R2					Noriyuki Haga	Noriyuki Haga	Ducati Xerox Team
4	R1		TT Circuit Assen	26 April	Ben Spies	Leon Haslam	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB	Report
	R2					Noriyuki Haga	Noriyuki Haga	Ducati Xerox Team
5	R1		Autodromo Nazionale di Monza	10 May	Ben Spies	Michel Fabrizio	Michel Fabrizio	Ducati Xerox Team	Report
	R2					Ben Spies	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB
6	R1		Kyalami	17 May	Ben Spies	Michel Fabrizio	Noriyuki Haga	Ducati Xerox Team	Report
	R2					Noriyuki Haga	Noriyuki Haga	Ducati Xerox Team
7	R1		Miller Motorsports Park	31 May	Ben Spies	Ben Spies	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB	Report
	R2					Ben Spies	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB
8	R1		Misano World Circuit	21 June	Jakub Smrž	Jakub Smrž	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB	Report
	R2					Noriyuki Haga	Jonathan Rea	HANNspree Ten Kate Honda
9	R1	Great Britain	Donington Park	28 June	Ben Spies	Ben Spies	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB	Report
	R2					Ben Spies	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB
10	R1		Masaryk Circuit	26 July	Ben Spies	Michel Fabrizio	Max Biaggi	Aprilia Racing	Report
	R2					Max Biaggi	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB
11	R1		Nürburgring	6 September	Noriyuki Haga	Noriyuki Haga	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB	Report
	R2					Jonathan Rea	Jonathan Rea	HANNspree Ten Kate Honda
12	R1		Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari	27 September	Michel Fabrizio	Michel Fabrizio	Noriyuki Haga	Ducati Xerox Team	Report
	R2					Noriyuki Haga	Michel Fabrizio	Ducati Xerox Team
13	R1		Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours	4 October	Ben Spies	Noriyuki Haga	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB	Report
	R2						Noriyuki Haga	Ducati Xerox Team
14	R1		Autódromo Internacional do Algarve	25 October	Ben Spies	Michel Fabrizio	Ben Spies	Yamaha WSB	Report
	R2					Michel Fabrizio	Michel Fabrizio	Ducati Xerox Team

Championship standings

Riders' standings

2009 final riders' standings^[5] Pos. Rider Bike AUS QAT SPA NED ITA RSA USA SMR GBR CZE GER ITA FRA POR Pts R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 1 Spies Yamaha 16 1 1 1 Ret 2 1 Ret 15 1 3 Ret 1 1 1 9 1 1 Ret 1 1 2 4 5 1 4 1 5 462 2 Haga Ducati 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 Ret 1 1 9 8 5 3 3 Ret 8 6 2 Ret 1 2 2 1 Ret 2 456 3 Fabrizio Ducati 4 5 Ret Ret 2 3 9 4 1 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 12 3 Ret 3 7 9 3 1 4 13 5 1 382 4 Biaggi Aprilia 11 15 3 3 8 8 5 Ret 11 5 5 5 6 4 13 10 2 21 1 2 5 4 2 4 3 2 3 6 319 5 Rea Honda 5 9 12 8 Ret 13 7 5 5 4 4 3 5 3 7 1 7 15 3 4 4 1 7 6 Ret 3 2 3 315 6 Haslam Honda 6 3 11 11 5 5 3 2 Ret 7 Ret 4 10 Ret 12 8 4 2 7 12 6 5 6 8 5 5 Ret Ret 241 7 Checa Honda 12 13 5 13 Ret 6 Ret 7 9 10 6 6 2 Ret 11 5 11 Ret 2 5 3 3 Ret 10 6 9 7 Ret 209 8 Byrne Ducati Ret Ret 6 12 9 11 11 8 14 18 9 Ret 11 10 2 6 5 4 4 8 10 Ret Ret 7 8 7 4 4 192 9 Sykes Yamaha 10 10 7 5 7 10 4 6 6 6 10 9 13 9 8 7 Ret 5 Ret 7 9 8 9 12 Ret Ret DNS DNS 176 10 Smrž Ducati 9 7 Ret 17 Ret 14 6 3 12 8 14 10 8 6 4 4 9 Ret 6 9 13 11 8 9 10 Ret Ret 8 169 11 Kiyonari Honda Ret 23 8 4 12 9 15 Ret 3 3 12 13 4 5 Ret 14 10 7 13 13 14 7 5 17 Ret DNS DNS DNS 141 12 Kagayama Suzuki 3 8 22 15 6 Ret Ret 12 4 17 8 8 12 12 6 11 17 13 14 Ret 15 10 15 Ret 7 6 Ret 11 128 13 Corser BMW 8 22 9 9 Ret 15 10 10 Ret DNS 15 17 Ret 19 Ret 20 5 10 8 6 11 Ret 9 10 Ret 9 96 14 Nakano Aprilia 15 12 4 7 DNS DNS Ret DNS 13 12 7 7 Ret 7 9 13 6 Ret Ret 11 Ret DNS 86 15 Laconi Ducati 7 4 10 14 4 4 8 16 8 11 WD WD 77 16 Suzuki 2 6 Ret 6 3 7 13 9 DNS DNS 75 17 Xaus BMW 19 11 13 10 13 16 14 11 7 9 Ret Ret 21 16 14 16 15 9 Ret DNS 12 13 11 12 8 Ret 74 18 Parkes Kawasaki Ret 18 14 16 10 17 10 13 15 14 Ret 11 17 17 18 14 12 16 Ret 13 10 15 Ret 15 11 12 51 19 Lagrive Honda 10 21 16 12 9 14 11 Ret Ret Ret 9 13 34 20 Camier Yamaha 13 6 32 Aprilia Ret Ret 6 7 21 Nieto Suzuki 16 15 16 13 18 12 22 Ducati 11 17 Ret 12 Ret Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret 22 Muggeridge Suzuki Ret 21 16 18 16 19 12 Ret 16 Ret 18 Ret Ret DNS 12 Ret 13 14 Ret 8 21 23 Hopkins Honda 11 12 WD WD DNS DNS 8 DNS Ret Ret DNS DNS 17 24 Baiocco Kawasaki Ret 24 19 22 20 Ret Ret 14 17 15 Ret Ret 17 Ducati Ret 16 14 16 12 14 10 Ret 25 Simoncelli Aprilia Ret 3 16 26 Lanzi Ducati 17 14 19 18 14 11 Ret 15 Ret 11 15 27 Tamada Kawasaki 18 17 DNS DNS 14 Ret 17 Ret DNS DNS 10 Ret DNS DNS Ret DNS 12 16 12 28 Lavilla Ducati 11 12 14 Ret 22 15 Ret 18 12 29 Scassa Kawasaki 20 20 17 20 18 24 Ret 15 23 14 17 Ret 19 Ret Ret 20 19 16 16 Ret 16 14 16 18 13 Ret 15 14 11 30 Hacking Kawasaki 7 19 16 22 21 Ret 9 31 Ellison Yamaha Ret 8 8 32 Morais Kawasaki 13 11 Ret 19 8 33 Guintoli Suzuki Ret 10 6 34 Andrews Kawasaki 20 10 6 35 Hill Honda 14 14 15 Ret 15 22 Ret Ret 20 16 19 17 DNS DNS 6 36 Salom Kawasaki 21 25 18 Ret 19 21 20 Ret 19 21 20 16 20 18 23 Ret 23 19 17 Ret 17 17 18 Ret 14 16 13 17 5 37 D. Checa Yamaha Ret 20 19 Ret 22 19 21 Ret 24 Ret 18 19 Ret 18 17 Ret 15 17 14 15 4 38 Roberts Ducati 17 19 21 19 Ret 18 16 13 DNS DNS 3 39 Rolfo Honda 13 16 Ret Ret 3 40 Iannuzzo Honda Ret Ret 20 21 Ret 23 Ret Ret 21 DSQ 20 24 Ret Ret 15 18 Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 2 41 Polita Suzuki 15 23 22 Ret Ret Ret 1 42 Zemke Honda 18 20 18 15 1 Resch Suzuki Ret 25 21 17 24 Ret NC 25 Ret Ret 19 20 18 Ret 16 18 Ret DNS 0 Young Suzuki 25 17 0 Badovini Kawasaki DNS DNS Ret Ret 17 Ret 0 Gentile Honda 17 DNS 0 Martin BMW 22 18 0 Easton Kawasaki 18 Ret 0 Whyte Yamaha 21 19 0 Čihák Suzuki 20 Ret 0 Nigon Yamaha 22 Ret 0 Cooper BMW Ret Ret 0 Conforti Ducati Ret DNS 0 Pos. Rider Bike AUS QAT SPA NED ITA RSA USA SMR GBR CZE GER ITA FRA POR Pts

Bold – Pole position Italics – Fastest lap

Manufacturers' standings

2009 final manufacturers' standings^[6]
Pos.	Manufacturer	AUS		QAT		SPA		NED		ITA		RSA		USA		SMR		GBR		CZE		GER		ITA		FRA		POR		Pts
R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2
1	Ducati	1	2	2	2	1	1	2	1	1	2	1	1	3	2	2	2	3	3	4	3	2	9	1	1	2	1	4	1	572
2	Yamaha	10	1	1	1	7	2	1	6	6	1	3	9	1	1	1	7	1	1	18	1	1	2	4	5	1	4	1	5	505
3	Honda	5	3	5	4	5	5	3	2	3	3	4	3	2	3	7	1	4	2	2	4	3	1	5	6	5	3	2	3	431
4	Aprilia	11	12	3	3	8	8	5	Ret	11	5	5	5	6	4	9	10	2	21	1	2	5	4	2	3	3	2	3	6	329
5	Suzuki	2	6	16	6	3	7	12	9	4	17	8	8	12	12	6	11	17	13	14	20	12	10	13	14	7	6	Ret	10	173
6	BMW	8	11	9	9	13	15	10	10	7	9	22	18	15	16	14	16	15	9	5	10	8	6	11	13	9	10	8	9	141
7	Kawasaki	18	17	14	16	10	17	17	14	10	13	13	11	7	11	16	17	18	10	10	16	16	13	10	15	13	15	11	12	76
Pos.	Manufacturer	AUS		QAT		SPA		NED		ITA		RSA		USA		SMR		GBR		CZE		GER		ITA		FRA		POR		Pts

Entry list

2009 entry list^[7] Team Constructor Motorcycle No. Rider Rounds Kawasaki World Superbike R.T. Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 2 Jamie Hacking^[8] 7–9 23 Broc Parkes 1–3, 5–14 32 Stuart Easton^[9] 4 100 Makoto Tamada 1–5, 10–12, 14 132 Sheridan Morais^[10] 6, 13 Aprilia Racing Aprilia Aprilia RSV4 Factory 3 Max Biaggi All 56 Shinya Nakano 1–11 58 Marco Simoncelli^[11] 12 22 Leon Camier^[12] 13–14 HANNspree Ten Kate Honda Honda Honda CBR1000RR 7 Carlos Checa All 65 Jonathan Rea All Ten Kate Honda Racing Honda Honda CBR1000RR 9 Ryuichi Kiyonari All DFX Corse Ducati Ducati 1098R 10 Fonsi Nieto^[13] 10–14 55 Régis Laconi 1–6 57 Lorenzo Lanzi^[14] 7–10, 12 Suzuki Alstare BRUX Team Suzuki Alstare Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9 10 Fonsi Nieto^[15] 6–8 31 Karl Muggeridge 11–13 50 Sylvain Guintoli^[16] 14 71 Yukio Kagayama All 76 Max Neukirchner 1–5 79 Blake Young^[17] 9 BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW BMW S1000RR 11 Troy Corser 1–5, 7–14 17 Steve Martin^[18] 6 47 Richard Cooper^[19] 11 111 Rubén Xaus 1–10, 12–14 HANNspree Honda Althea Honda Althea Racing Honda Honda CBR1000RR 14 Matthieu Lagrive^[20] 8–12, 14 33 Tommy Hill 1–7 40 Flavio Gentile 13 PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 15 Matteo Baiocco 1–5, 8 86 Ayrton Badovini 1–3 Guandalini Racing Ducati Ducati 1098R 15 Matteo Baiocco^[21] 11–14 24 1–5 36 Gregorio Lavilla^[22] 6–9 96 Jakub Smrž All Yamaha WSB Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 19 Ben Spies All 66 Tom Sykes All Airwaves Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 22 Leon Camier^[23] 9 27 James Ellison 9 Team Pedercini Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 25 David Salom All 99 Luca Scassa All Celani Race Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9 31 Karl Muggeridge 1–7 53 Alessandro Polita^[24] 8–10 Ducati Xerox Team Ducati Ducati 1098R 41 Noriyuki Haga All 84 Michel Fabrizio All Stiggy Racing Honda Honda Honda CBR1000RR 44 Roberto Rolfo 1–2 91 Leon Haslam All 98 Jake Zemke^[25] 5, 7 121 John Hopkins^[26] 3–4, 8–11 Yamaha France GMT 94 IPONE Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R1 49 Shaun Whyte^[27] 6 64 Erwan Nigon 7 94 David Checa 3–5, 8–14 ProRace Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9 51 Miloš Čihák 10 Sterilgarda Ducati Ducati 1098R 67 Shane Byrne All Squadra Corse Italia Honda Honda CBR1000RR 77 Vittorio Iannuzzo 1–5, 8–14 TKR Suzuki Switzerland Suzuki Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9 88 Roland Resch 3–5, 8–11, 13–14 MSS Colchester Kawasaki Kawasaki Kawasaki ZX-10R 117 Simon Andrews^[28] 9 Barni Racing Team Ducati Ducati 1098R 124 Luca Conforti 12

Key Regular rider Wildcard rider Replacement rider

• All entries utilized Pirelli tyres.

Notes and References

1. Web site: HANNspree Will Sponsor Superbike World Championship Through 2010, And Will Sponsor American Round At Miller In 2008. 19 February 2005. roadracingworld.com. 23 October 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071205041501/http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=30462. 5 December 2007. live.
2. News: Imola returns to WSBK calendar.. Crash.net. Crash Media Group. December 2008. 6 December 2016.
3. News: WSBK goes 'knockout', 'flag to flag' in 2009.. Crash.net. Crash Media Group. September 2008. 6 December 2016.
4. Web site: Road Racing FIM Superbike & Supersport World Championships and FIM Superstock Cup Regulations 2009. spelregels.eu. Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. 31 January 2009. 6 December 2016.
5. Web site: Portimao, 23–24–25 October 2009 – Superbike – Championship Standings. resources.worldsbk.com. Dorna WSBK. 25 October 2009. 6 December 2016.
6. Web site: Portimao, 23–24–25 October 2009 – Superbike – Manufacturers Standings. resources.worldsbk.com. Dorna WSBK. 25 October 2009. 6 December 2016.
7. News: Record numbers of entries in World Superbike and Supersport . worldsbk.com . 2009-01-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090116115036/http://www.worldsbk.com/pubb_EN/news_ext.php?id=2807 . January 16, 2009 . dead .
8. News: Hacking joins PBM Kawasaki for Miller . crash.net . 2009-05-20 . 2009-05-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090526223015/http://www.crash.net/World+Superbikes/News/147069/1/hacking_joins_pbm_kawasaki_for_miller.html . 2009-05-26 . live .
9. News: Easton gets Kawasaki WSBK call-up . crash.net . 2009-04-22 . 2009-04-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090425190357/http://www.crash.net/World%2BSuperbikes/News/145686/1/easton_gets_kawasaki_wsbk_call-up.html . 25 April 2009 . live .
10. News: Morais replaces injured Tamada in Kyalami . . 2009-05-14 . 2009-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714121509/http://www.motorstv.com/bike/road-racing/wsbk-ssp/14052009/wsbk-morais-replaces-injured-tamada-in-kyalami . 2011-07-14 . dead .
11. Web site: Marco Simoncelli to make WSBK debut at Imola! . Crash.net . https://web.archive.org/web/20090927170717/http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/152597/1/marco_simoncelli_to_race_wsbk_aprilia_at_imola.html . 2009-09-27 . dead . 2009-09-30 .
12. Web site: Camier to replace Nakano at Aprilia – Motorcycle racing news: WSB – Visordown . https://web.archive.org/web/20091004215418/http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-wsb/camier-to-replace-nakano-at-aprilia/8309.html . 2009-10-04 . live . 2009-09-30 .
13. News: Fonsi Nieto_joins_DFX Ducati.html . crash.net . Crash Media Group . 2009-07-15 . 2009-07-15 . 2009-07-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090718202544/http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/149800/1/fonsi_nieto_joins_dfx_ducati.html . dead .
14. News: Lanzi takes place of Laconi in DFX Corse . . Infront Motor Sports . 2009-05-22 . 2009-05-22 . Julian Thomas . https://web.archive.org/web/20090714053226/http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/601-lanzi-takes-place-of-laconi-in-dfx-corse.html . 2009-07-14 . live .
15. News: Nieto to make Suzuki return at Kyalami . crash.net . 2009-05-12 . 2009-05-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090515000140/http://www.crash.net/World%2BSuperbikes/News/146699/1/nieto_to_make_suzuki_return_at_kyalami.html . 15 May 2009 . live .
16. Web site: Guintoli to get early WSB debut with Alstare Suzuki at Portimao.
17. News: Suzuki Alstare sign Young for Donington . Crash Media Group . crash.net . 2009-06-23 . 2009-06-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090627130052/http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/148802/1/suzuki_alstare_sign_young_for_donington.html . 2009-06-27 . live .
18. News: Corser latest to withdraw, Martin replaces . crash.net . 2009-05-12 . 2009-05-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090515114801/http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/146704/1/corser_latest_to_withdraw_martin_replaces.html . 2009-05-15 . live .
19. Web site: Xaus not quite ready for return so Cooper joins Corser.
20. News: Tommy Hill leaves Althea Honda . Crash Media Group . crash.net . 2009-06-16 . 2009-06-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090626190349/http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/148420/1/tommy_hill_leaves_althea_honda.html . 2009-06-26 . live .
21. Web site: Matteo Baiocco Profile WSBK Crash.Net . 2010-09-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120928222144/http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/racer_bio/179/matteo__baiocco.html . 2012-09-28 . dead .
22. News: Lavilla returns to replace Roberts . crash.net . 2009-05-12 . 2009-05-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090512233202/http://www.crash.net/world%2Bsuperbikes/news/146641/1/lavilla_returns_to_replace_roberts.html . 12 May 2009 . live .
23. News: Camier, Ellison confirmed for Donington WSBK . crash.net . Crash Media Group . 2009-06-11 . 2009-06-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090625210522/http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes/news/148150/1/camier_ellison_confirmed_for_donington_wsbk.html . 2009-06-25 . live .
24. News: Muggeridge skips Misano, Polita returns . crash.net . Crash Media Group . 2009-06-18 . 2009-06-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090627080738/http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/148506/1/muggeridge_skips_misano_polita_returns.html . 2009-06-27 . live .
25. News: Zemke to deputise for Hopkins at Monza . crash.net . 2009-05-05 . 2009-05-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120918085931/http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/146350/1/zemke_to_deputise_for_hopkins_at_monza.html . 2012-09-18 . live .
26. News: Hopkins joins WSBK with Stiggy Honda . crash.net . 2009-03-20 . 2009-03-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090323014942/http://www.crash.net/World%2BSuperbikes/News/144217/1/hopkins_joins_wsbk_with_stiggy_honda.html . 23 March 2009 . live .
27. News: Zimbabwean Whyte to race Yamaha at Kyalami . crash.net . Crash Media Group . 2009-05-15 . 2009-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090601165510/http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/News/146770/1/zimbabwean_whyte_to_race_yamaha_at_kyalami.html . 2009-06-01 . live .
28. News: Andrews gains Donington WSBK wild-card . crash.net . Crash Media Group . 2009-06-18 . 2009-06-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090627081443/http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/148502/1/andrews_gains_donington_wsbk_wild-card.html . 2009-06-27 . live .