WSBK Italy (1): Sykes imposes on Misano

Author of an unexpected pole position yesterday afternoon, Tom Sykes had an irreproachable race this morning in Misano. Jonathan Rea and Chaz Davies struggled much more to accompany him to the podium. Mr. Biaggi finished 6th.

Author of a yesterday afternoon, Tom Sykes had an irreproachable race this morning in Misano. Jonathan Rea and Chaz Davies struggled much more to accompany him to the podium. Mr. Biaggi finished 6th.

First Superbike race

The two official Kawasaki take off very well from the grid. Tom Sykes takes the lead ahead of Davide Giugliano, Leon Haslam, Jonathan Rea, Jordi Torres, Chaz Davies. Max Biaggi and Sylvain Guintoli scramble and lose precious places !

The two Aprilia champions (2010, 2012 for the Italian, 2014 for our dear "frenchie") start again ahead of Ayrton Badovini and Michael van den Mark (tenth when he started from 15th place!). De Puniet is 20th, Ponsson 22nd.

Sykes is a good half second ahead of Giugliano at the end of the first lap. Haslam leads the hunt group consisting of Rea, Torres, and Davies. A good fight begins between the last two men when Chaz doubles Jordi in Quercia !

In front, Rea tries to make the inside to Haslam in the Variante del Parco but cannot stay in front. In the background, we see an Aprilia sliding off the track: Torres has to abandon the first heat at the start of the 3rd lap. Davies climbs to fifth position. Biaggi becomes sixth, several lengths away from Ducati n ° 7.

Tom Sykes keeps his half a second ahead of Davide Giugliano. Leon Haslam does not turn fast enough to get back on the Ducati n ° 34 and must be wary of Jonathan Rea who is made more and more pressing as Chaz Davies and Max Biaggi also approach the Aprilia n ° 91…

The championship leader places his ZX-10R under Leon Haslam’s RSV4 at the start of the 6th lap. Chaz Davies takes advantage of Rea’s maneuver to place an attack on Haslam. Leon defends himself by passing Chaz but must finally give up his fourth place !

Sykes entered the 9th lap more than a second ahead of Giugliano, and almost four seconds over Rea and Davies. Haslam gradually loses contact with his compatriots but remains beyond the reach of the Roman Emperor. Our champion Guintoli is seventh, Ponsson 19th. De Puniet returns to the pits…

On lap 11 (out of 21), the metronome Sykes accelerates a suspicion and nibbles three tenths to Giugliano who cannot keep up with the tempo. Rea spins a little faster than the two leading men and pulls away slightly from Davies, Haslam and Biaggi.

More than twelve seconds behind Sykes, Guintoli is harassed by Van den Mark and Badovini. The Dutch and the Italian stumble on the champion and make a few small mistakes which further improve the show! But the action is not limited to the background…

With 8 laps to go, Jonathan Rea climbs back slightly on Giugliano and brings in his wake the Italian’s teammate, Chaz Davies! Haslam is dropped more than three seconds from "JR" and Biaggi is one second away.

Davies unleashes an attack upstream from Tramonto and heads down the long straight back to Rea! The Ducati gallops very well and allows "Chazie" to climb virtually on the podium. But the n ° 7 could not be satisfied with the third place and aims the second step occupied by Davide.

While "Major Tom" parades alone in the lead, Giugliano suddenly loses the rhythm and turns a second slower than his pursuers: Rea – again third! – and Davies. A battle is also brewing between Haslam and Biaggi, for fifth place.

With less than 3 laps to go, Giugliano is joined by Rea and Davies. The official Kawasaki rider easily overtakes the n ° 34 Ducati at the end of the pit straight and climbs to second position. Davies struggles to overtake his teammate.

Davies finally found the opening shortly before the start of the last lap. He was then half a second behind Rea, who took very defensive paths and lost precious tenths on Davies. This goes up in the back of the Kawa ‘n ° 65 at the end of the course…

Unleashed, "Chazie" throws himself inside "JR" in the last bend but widens and cannot revive properly … "Major Tom" Sykes signs his victory with a masterful wheelie in front of his mechanics, and more than three seconds ahead of Rea and Davies.

Davide Giugliano finished at the foot of the podium, six seconds ahead of two Aprilia riders: the holder Leon Haslam and the VIP Max Biaggi. Beaten by Ayrton Badovini and Michele Pirro, Sylvain Guintoli is ahead of his teammate Michael van den Mark (10th). Christophe Ponsson finishes 18th.

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