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<span style="font-family: " mso-fareast-font-family:="mso-fareast-font-family:" 'Times="'Times" New="New" Roman';"="Roman';"">As we all know now the 0.004 seconds which split winner Leon Haslam from second place Michel Fabrizio at the opening round of the new season was the closest finish in WSB history. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span>

<span style="font-family: " mso-fareast-font-family:="mso-fareast-font-family:" 'Times="'Times" New="New" Roman';"="Roman';"">There is another underlying fact about close SBK finishes in general that is apparent only when we look at a list of the tightest finishes over the past few years. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span>

<span style="font-family: " mso-fareast-font-family:="mso-fareast-font-family:" 'Times="'Times" New="New" Roman';"="Roman';"">The faster circuits on the championship calendar deliver the closest finishes.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span>

<span style="font-family: " mso-fareast-font-family:="mso-fareast-font-family:" 'Times="'Times" New="New" Roman';"="Roman';"">The top four closest finishes took place at, in order, Phillip Island (average speed around 171kmph), Monza (196kmph), Phillip island again and Assen (164kmph) - all circuits with fast average speeds and several chances to slipstream other riders, keeping the leading pack together. They are also circuits that, despite their hairpins and chicanes, still feel fast.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span>

<span style="font-family: " mso-fareast-font-family:="mso-fareast-font-family:" 'Times="'Times" New="New" Roman';"="Roman';"">If we look at the top ten fastest finishes of recent years, Imola also (163kmph) comes into play. In fact, it takes us to the 12th ranked close finish until we reach Misano (156kmph) a circuit with many twists and slower turns - but, crucially, three fast right hand corners as well - before we hit a circuit with what can be considered to have a middle ranked average speed. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span>

<span style="font-family: " mso-fareast-font-family:="mso-fareast-font-family:" 'Times="'Times" New="New" Roman';"="Roman';""><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Of the top 16 closest race finishes, only that Misano one took place outside of the ‘fast four’ comprising Phillip Island, Monza, Assen and Imola.</span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span>

<span style="font-family: " mso-fareast-font-family:="mso-fareast-font-family:" 'Times="'Times" New="New" Roman';"="Roman';"">*</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span>



Source: World Superbike

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