WSBK – WSBK United States (1): Melandri defeat Guintoli and Sykes –

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WSBK United States (1): Melandri defeat Guintoli and Sykes

WSBK - WSBK United States (1): Melandri defeats Guintoli and Sykes -

Marco Melandri has just completed a fantastic first ride at Laguna Seca. The Aprilia rider left no chance for his teammate Sylvain Guintoli and champion Tom Sykes, who accompany him on the podium.. First Superbike race Tom Sykes takes the lead when the two red lights go out in front of Sylvain Guintoli…

Marco Melandri has just completed a fantastic first ride at Laguna Seca. The Aprilia rider left no chance for his teammate Sylvain Guintoli and champion Tom Sykes, who accompany him on the podium..

First Superbike race

Tom Sykes takes the lead when the two red lights go out in front of Sylvain Guintoli … overtaken by Marco Melandri in the first sequence! Follow Chaz Davies, Leon Haslam, Jonathan Rea, Davide Giugliano, Toni Elias, Loris Baz. Jeremy Guarnoni is 17th, Sylvain Barrier 19th.

Incredible but true, the world champion loupe in Corkscrew and finds himself on the ground, like Marquez last year or Rossi in 2008! The Ninja happily remains – for him and for his pursuers – on its wheels….

The two Aprilia nevertheless took the opportunity to turn in the lead and started the second lap ahead of Sykes, Davies, Haslam and Rea who was passed through Giugliano in this second loop. A few seconds later, Davies is sharply ejected by his Panigale: the Welshman takes several seconds before getting up and taking cover.

Guintoli beats the official lap record from the 2nd lap by chasing Melandri … The Frenchie is in the wheel of the Italian but must watch his rear because Sykes is in his aspiration! Giugliano is a big second behind the leading trio and tows the rest of the peloton made up of the two Honda n ° 91 and 65, the Suzuki n ° 58 and the private Aprilia n ° 24.

Lowes and Baz try in the first laps to round up the chase group, while Guarnoni and Barrier fight for fifteenth place. In the next loop, Rea who had just climbed in front of his teammate leaves the track at turn 3 and rejoins the track in tenth position, behind Baz.

In front, the "Macho" Marco prints a very good rhythm that only "Guinters" manage to follow. Sykes found himself a few lengths behind and threatened by Giugliano. In the back of the Kawa ‘"Number One" on the climb to Corkscrew, the official Ducati n ° 34 is missing under braking, widens and loses a precious second !

On the 8th lap, Laverty took a straight line into the second bend, rejoined the track but watched his selector insistently. The Suzuki rider had to retire and therefore left Haslam and Elias to fight for 5th place, more than six seconds behind the race leader … Marco Melandri, Si !

The 10th lap is launched and Guintoli does not leave the rear wheel of his teammate, but does not trigger an attack … The fall of Portimao is still fresh in the minds, especially that of Sylvain! Tom Sykes always points to a small second from Marco. Davide Giugliano is gradually released: in one lap, the n ° 34 gives up a second to the trio.

Haslam and Elias are being chased by Lowes! Rea tries to catch up and is just two seconds behind fifth as halfway draws near. Salom and Canepa are fighting for first place in the Evo category, three short seconds behind Baz. Guarnoni and Barrier occupy the 14th and 15th places.

The gaps between the three leading men start to increase from the 15th lap. Impressive for connoisseurs, the round of Marco, Sylvain and Tom lacks spice in the eyes of neophytes. Fortunately, Elias is "hot" by passing Haslam at the end of the 16th lap. Former GP star is fifth, four big seconds behind solo Giugliano.

Melandri raised the tone and forged, with the force of one right wrist, a lead of a second and a half over Guintoli in the space of three laps. Sykes had the same delay on the Frenchman, Giugliano was then seven seconds behind the Kawasaki n ° 1.

With five laps to go Elias is still in fifth but Rea overtakes – again – Haslam on Corkscrew braking and is now aiming for the No. 24 RSV4. Lowes rolls a good two seconds behind the two Honda’s, Baz is more than ten seconds behind, chased by his teammate Salom, first Evo.

Our two other French representatives are still completing this first American Top 15: Barrier is eyeing 13th place in Staring while Guarnoni is rolling a few lengths behind. The first American is 18th: it is the "wild card" Pegram on his EBR 1190 RX.

In front, Melandri definitely knocked out Guintoli and increased his lead to almost three seconds. Sykes has completely returned the throttle and is over seven seconds behind Melandri. Barrier jumps to 13th place on lap 23, and Pegram has to retire on technical glitch.

Author of a perfect race, leading from the first to the 25th lap, Marco Melandri logically wins. Sylvain Guintoli finished less than a second, but only because the Italian gave up the gas in the last stretch. Championship leader Tom Sykes completes first Californian podium…

Loris Baz has to be content with a distant ninth place, while Sylvain Barrier can be satisfied with his 12th place in the scratch, third in the Evo category. Satisfaction also for Guarnoni who scores two points, as well as for Camier who scores one on the handlebars of Corti’s F4RR.

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