Ben Spies moved ahead of Noriyuki Haga at the top of the FIM Superbike World Championship standings after the veteran Japanese rider crashed out of Sunday's second race at the Nurburgring.

Spies had already edged Haga out to win the opening race of the day and move two points behind his rival heading into the second race.

Hopes of a tight battle in race two were, however, dashed after just four laps when Haga crashed. Spies went on to take second place behind Jonathan Rea and therefore open up an 18-point lead in the riders' standings with three rounds to go.

Spies, who signed a new two-year deal with Yamaha this week, threatened to make it two wins for the day in the closing stages when he hounded Rea - but he could find no way past the Northern Irishman and finished 0.786secs adrift.

The key moment of the race, however, arrived when Haga crashed after he made contact with Rea's bike on the opening corner of his fourth lap.

Rea had slipped up the inside on the tight right-hander. When Haga tried to retaliate by going back inside the Honda rider, the pair collided - with the Japanese going down. Carlos Checha (Honda) rounded out the podium places ahead of Italian Max Biaggi.

In race one, Spies grabbed his 12th victory of the season after staving off Haga in the closing laps.

Haga had begun on pole, his first since joining Ducati - and after starting well, he was reeled in by Spies on lap 10.

The Texan then kept his more experienced rival at bay before a slight error from Haga allowed Spies to coast home 3.850secs ahead.

Checa held off his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate Rea to take the final podium position. Makoto Tamada and John Hopkins both failed to finish the race, tangling soon after the start, and were taken to Adenaiu hospital with concussion.