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Max Biaggi Scores WSBK Double Win in Portimao

For more than 3 years he waited for this to happen, and now it's finally here. Former FIM World Motorcycle Champion Max Biaggi scored his first double winner in the World Superbike this weekend, ending a perfect weekend for Aprilia at the Portimao circuit.

Having scored a 2nd place in the Super Pole, Biaggi managed to outpace title rival Leon Haslam (Alstare Suzuki) both times on Sunday, coming less than 2 tenths of a second ahead of the British rider in both legs. The first race was a one-on-one battle between the two, with the Italian rider emerging race winner by 2 tenths of a second, while the second race saw Biaggi win by a 0.191-second margin.

In the first race, the podium was completed by Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) who was lucky enough to take advantage of Cal Crutchlow's fall in the late stages of the 22-lap race.

The second race saw a much closer fight between Biaggi and Haslam, as the Suzuki rider led the race for the majority of the afternoon action. However, the Italian's experience was quite visible in the last lap, when he managed to get the inside of Haslam in the very last corner of the race and emerge double winner in Portimao.

Unlike in Race 1, Crutchlow managed to control his bike until the finish line and score his second WSBK podium in career, while followed by Carlos Checa.

It is great to get my first double win in World Superbike. The feeling is great as it is the first double win of anybody this year, so I feel confident that we have a good rhythm. We go to Valencia next and we will ask very much of ourselves there as well,” said the Italian, who scored Aprilia's first double-win weekend in 9 years.

I was trying everything to pass Max and in race two I timed it so I could be in the lead with a few laps to go and make a break, but Max came back past me on the straight. It was hard racing today from lap one right to the end,” said Haslam.

Following his double podium finish in Portimao, Haslam is now topping the riders classification with 85 points, while followed by Biaggi (69) and Carlos Checa (60).
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