The practising and qualifying of the third round of the World Superbikes last weekend in Valencia, Spain, saw me qualify in 13th position, on the fourth row of the grid aboard the Alitalia-sponsored Aprilia in perfect weather conditions.

Team-mate Max Biaggi grabbed third with Cal Crutchlow getting the No.1 spot on the Sterilgarda Yamaha and Carlos Checa in second aboard the Althea Ducati.

It’s a circuit where there’s little room to overtake easily and the bike is constantly on the side of its tyres.

I got a perfect start in race one when the lights changed and I’d slotted into second place within a few yards of the startline.

However, by the first turn, a number of riders managed to squeeze past me and I slotted into fourth as we exited the corner. Later on the same lap, I lost another place, so it was down to fifth as we crossed the line for the second lap. Without doubt, to date the best start and position I’d occupied.

For the next few laps, it was a case of getting into a rhythm and not letting the leaders get too far ahead. James Toseland got past me on lap four but I wasn’t too concerned as there were still plenty of laps to go in this 23-lapper.

However, on lap seven on the back straight and approaching a fast left-hander I hit a bump and the front wheel folded and went away sending both me and the bike down the tarmac at more than 130mph. Fortunately, there was a run-off section and I slid for a while on my back with the bike sliding alongside me too – but that was the end of my race one!

Biaggi got a superb second from Leon Haslam and Toseland came in third.

Race two saw me mid-pack from the off but by mid-lap I’d got up to seventh while up front, Checa, Rea and Biaggi were battling for the lead.

At the start of lap three, Simon Andrews (filling in on the Kawasaki) had a spectacular coming-together with the Italian rider Ianzziu (Honda CBR1000RR) when his bike’s engine blew up over the start/finish line and the race was red-flagged to allow the marshals to recover both riders and their bikes.

The re-start of the second race saw me get onto the second row in seventh as the places were designated by our positions at the end of lap three in the aborted race.

With a good start, a third of the way round lap one I took the lead from Biaggi – awesome! With two laps gone, I was 0.7sec in front of Biaggi but I had to get more than 1.7sec over Checa because of the aggregate times.

For the next eight laps, the track was clear in front of me but I could still hear the exhausts of both Biaggi and Checa on my heels.

Lap nine was my nemesis; approaching a fast left-hander again, the front of my Aprilia broke away and I hit the grey stuff – once again, end of my race.

Although disappointed with two DNFs, it was a great feeling to be at the head of the pack for a few laps – hopefully a taste of things to come!

In an incredible remainder of the race, Haga overcame a 1.7sec deficit to take the No.1 position from Checa and my team-mate Biaggi came in third. So, roll on Assen, the next round over the weekend of April 24/25.