Retrospective: Noriyuki Haga is one of the greats

Here is a Japanese one. It is true that when we talk about the talented pilots of the archipelago, Noriyuki Haga is rarely at the top of the list, probably because he has not driven long enough in Grands Prix. Once is not customary, let's instead go to Superbike to discover the career of this formidable rider, unfortunately never crowned.

It all started in the early 1990s. Noriyuki was involved in the Japanese championship, which was very prolific at the time. He signed with Yamaha in 1995, and immediately revealed himself on the national level. In 1996, he won the Suzuka 8 Hours alongside Colin Edwards on a YZF750, then, a year later, was crowned Japanese 500cc champion. A career start that couldn't be more promising.

Like many of his compatriots, he had already raced in Superbike during the local round, as a wildcard. Moreover, in 1996, he finished second in the first race before suffering a disqualification during the second. It was in 1997 that the first big opportunity of his career presented itself. Edwards, injured at Yamaha, cannot compete in the last two rounds of the championship, scheduled for Sauce, at home, but also at Feel in Indonesia. He doesn't need more. He took his first victory during the second Japanese round, and landed a ride with the official Yamaha team for 1998.

 

 

The 1998 and 1999 seasons are not so convincing: Noriyuki is fast but too many falls prevent him from fighting for the title. On the other hand, in 1998 he made a notable appearance in Grands Prix, for Yamaha, still as wildcard at Suzuka : third at the finish. Also, the bike bearing the number 41 struggles a lot in qualifying. However, in 2000, the window is more open than ever, but it could well have turned sour. From the first appointment in South Africa, he tested positive for ephedrine, a substance little known here. Less widespread than anabolic steroids, it has a chemical composition close to amphetamines, and remains regulated in many countries. Used as a doping product, the molecule increases aggressiveness and helps reduce fatigue. Haga tells him about a natural product taken during the winter.

Still, he is sidelined for a month. However, the affair dragged on during the season and the sanction was reduced to two weeks, which prevented him from competing for the title until the end against Colin Edwards. Because yes, Haga had his best season with four victories and seven podiums. He fails in second place. Dramatic twist at the end of 2000: Yamaha wanted to concentrate on GPs, and forced Haga to come and try out full-time in 500cc, within the structure Red Bull WCM. Despite finishing fourth in Great Britain, his campaign was disappointing. Immediately, the Japanese looked for a way out to return to WSBK.

It is PlayStation 2-FGF Aprilia let him welcome him. Then, the Italian manufacturer decided to send him back to MotoGP! On the RS-Cube poorly born, the sauce does not take. Him like Colin Edwards, his teammate again (lthe two don't let go of each other anymore) struggle enormously on his handlebars. For 2004, he plans his second return to Superbike, and signs with Renagade Ducati Koji in the hope of playing for the title. He can do nothing in the face of the regularity of James Toseland, and even gets beaten by Regis Laconi.

Return to Yamaha, via the structure Italia WSB in 2005 but nothing happened: third again, this time behind Troy Corser et Chris Vermeulen. Never two without three: he is still third in 2006, preceded by Troy bayliss et James Toseland ! Definitely. He redoubled his efforts in 2007, was more incisive, better in qualifying... only to lose again against Toseland. When it doesn't want, it doesn't want. Still very fast in 2008, he is third behind the “Troy”, Bayliss and Corser. This is still the fourth time in five years that he has failed in this more than frustrating position. But the announcement of the retirement of “Baylisstic” opens the door to Noriyuki. Ducati, central team in Superbike, hires him to win the crown; any other goal would be a huge disappointment. While all the planets are aligned, an extra-terrestrial arrives, a rookie who has never set foot in Superbike before. Her name : Ben Spies.

 

From the first rounds, we realize that the American is not there to count the fishing spoons. The two exchange blows and share the majority of victories, with a few crumbs left to Michelle Fabrizio et Max Biaggi. Haga has the advantage, but an injury caused at Donington causes the comeback of “ Elbowz ". The consistency and intrinsic speed of Spies, much better, overcame the chances of the Japanese who once again let the championship slip away. The gap is only six points, out of the 462 won by the winner.

Realize: Noriyuki had finished on the final podium seven times, but he had never won. He is, again and again, one of the best riders to have never won a title in the history of motorcycle sport. Already 35 years old, he is no longer as fast in 2010, perhaps worn out by so much disillusionment. Having moved to Aprilia Pata in 2011, he preferred to turn to the British championship, the BSB, before retiring.

Haga, it's all the same 286 races in WSBK, 43 wins and a total of 110 podiums, all accompanied by 55 best laps in a race, with “only” seven poles. No crown, it's true, but lasting memories for anyone who saw him ride.

Do you have any memories of him? Tell us in the comments!

 

Cover photo: Smudge 9000