WSBK – WSBK Portugal (1): Sykes wins ahead of Guintoli and Baz –

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WSBK Portugal (1): Sykes wins ahead of Guintoli and Baz

WSBK - WSBK Portugal (1): Sykes wins ahead of Guintoli and Baz -

Heckled at the start of the race, Tom Sykes tamed his little comrades this afternoon on the Portimao circuit. The English Ninja recorded his 21st WSBK success, as much as Biaggi. Sylvain Guintoli and Loris Baz accompany him on this first Portuguese podium 2014. First Superbike race Tom Sykes gets eaten by Jonathan Rea and Marco Melandri in the…

Heckled at the start of the race, Tom Sykes tamed his little comrades this afternoon on the Portimao circuit. The English Ninja recorded his 21st WSBK success, as much as Biaggi. Sylvain Guintoli and Loris Baz accompany him on this first Portuguese podium 2014.

First Superbike race

Tom Sykes gets eaten by Jonathan Rea and Marco Melandri on the descent to the first corner. Follow Chaz Davies, Sylvain Guintoli, Loris Baz, Alex Lowes, Leon Haslam, Eugene Laverty and Davide Giugliano. Sylvain Barrier departs in the first curve and loses a pair of places.

Baz overtook Guintoli with great authority at the start of the first lap, then took advantage of a little heat from Davies to move up to fourth position. In front, Sykes pretends to dislodge Melandri in the straight line but remains behind the Italian.

In the lead since the red lights went out, Rea imposed his pace and had a few steps ahead at the start of the second lap. Baz is then fourth, Guintoli sixth, Barrier 13th, Guarnoni 17th and Foret 22nd.

Sykes passes Melandri in the straight line of the 3rd loop. Baz, Guintoli and Davies return to contact the three leading men. Haslam leads the second group consisting of Laverty, Giugliano and Lowes. Salom is the first in the Evo category ahead of Iddon and Barrier.

At the start of the 4th lap, Aprilia n ° 33 takes advantage of the suction phenomenon to pass Honda n ° 65 right in the middle of the straight line … But it is the Kawasaki "Number One", it even in the asp of Marco’s RSV4, who takes the reins of the race !

The Briton immediately tries to slip away in the English way … Melandri hangs on as much as he can but is forced to give up several lengths to the reigning world champion. Rea keeps his Fireblade in the wheel of the factory RSV4, but is followed – very – closely by Baz, Guintoli and Davies.

Tom Sykes made his effort and was half a second ahead of Melandri at the start of the 6th lap. Toni Elias falls at the same time, leaves again but must finally give up. Sylvain Barrier, more often on one wheel than on two (!) Ensures a superb show with his two big rivals, Salom and Iddon. Guarnoni is still struggling to get into the points. Drill is already signaled one lap late.

At the head of the race, Baz managed to settle on the podium, overtaking Rea. The "Green Giant" is only half a second behind Melandri, but a big second and a half behind his teammate Tom Sykes who opens the track.

Loris beautifully resists an attack from Johnny at the start of the 9th round! The Frenchman cannot catch up with the rope in the first corner and in the following break but does not let go: outside Rea, Baz remains wide open and stays ahead! Melandri momentarily loses her footing and is attacked from all sides…

Rea and Guintoli are in the backsplash of the Italian and threaten him in the long straight but cannot pass. In the 11th round Guintoli makes a real festival: the Frenchie is at the head of the hunting group while a few drops of rain appear and the white flag is out !

Less "hydrophobic" than his little comrades, Haslam is also making progress. The n ° 91 slips his Honda under Davies’ Ducati but loses the front and leads the Welshman in his fall. Their pursuers (Giugliano, Laverty and Lowes in the first place) gain two places: Sylvain Barrier, ninth in the race now, and still first in the Evo category !

Unperturbed, Tom Sykes continued his solo race and maintained his two second lead over Guintoli, Baz and Melandri. Rea gradually loses contact with his comrades. Giugliano is six seconds behind as Laverty and Lowes fight for seventh, two seconds behind the factory Panigale.

There are only five laps to go and the little downpour seems already forgotten. Sykes parades alone in the lead, as the gaps widen between his pursuers. Melandri tries to attack Baz on the brakes in the 16th lap but widens each time, never going past # 76.

Barrier and Salom are much cleaner and inseparable: Sylvain whips his BMW to stay ahead of the official Ninja. Eight seconds ahead of these two Evo riders, Giugliano is joined by the two Suzuki: Laverty is up to the Ducati in the straight line and starts the 18th lap in sixth position.

More than thirty seconds behind the leader, Guarnoni (15th) did everything possible to come back to Iddon and Canepa in order to double or triple his score. Foret retired a long time ago … The last driver in the race is Aaron Yates, on his 1190 RX.

While Tom Sykes and Sylvain Guintoli are heading – almost! – quietly towards the first two steps of the Portuguese podium, Melandri desperately seeks to climb the third. The Hedgehog delays its braking, conscientiously crushes its right lever, but is still too far from Baz.

Laverty, Lowes and Giugliano offer a final beautiful lap: the English champion Alex finally finds an opening on his experienced teammate and lets him explain himself to Davide. Finally, Eugene bowed to the Italian…

The disappointment is even greater for Sylvain Barrier: the BMW Italia rider goes into acceleration on the final ascent to the finish line! The n ° 52 nevertheless obtains a superb 10th place for his third race of the year. Its fourth begins in two short hours: stay tuned !

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