'We are crazy' admit Haga, Kagayama!

The highlight of the restarted race two at Magny Cours on Sunday was undoubtedly the furious race long battle between Japanese aces Yukio Kagayama and Noriyuki Haga for what would turn out to be second position.

Alstare Suzuki rider Kagayama had already collected second, behind Ten Kate Honda's Chris Vermeulen, in race one - while Haga had failed to finish after being taken out by his own team-mate, Andrew Pitt, at the hairpin (lower picture).

But both Kagayama and Haga would stay on two-wheels in race two, despite making repeated contact throughout the 23 lap encounter, which eventually ended with Kagayama claiming second behind Lorenzo Lanzi - Vermeulen having retired from the lead with late race mechanical problems.

After the race, both Japanese riders put their thrilling on track antics down to sheer 'craziness'.

"I enjoyed the second race very much dicing with Nori Haga. I am a crazy Japanese rider but I learnt my craziness from Haga-San! declared Yuki, who finished fifth in the championship standings.

"I want to thank my team for all the good work this season and hope next year will be even better. I had a good start to the season and a bad middle section which means that I am very happy to finish the season with two podiums," he concluded.

"The second was fun and I enjoyed making big fighting with Yukio. Almost every lap we touched each other - I think both of us are crazy!" confirmed Yamaha rider Haga, before reflecting on his own 2005 season:

"The first race was disappointing, especially because the crash was not my fault and I lost my run of podiums (but) I am happy to finish third in the championship in the R1's first year in World Superbikes.

"We have been strong in the second half of the season and we know what is needed to improve the bike so that it can be fighting for wins at every race next year," concluded Nitro Nori.