eni FIM Superbike World Championship, GEICO Motorcycle U.S. Round
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Monterey, California, USA
July 13, 2014
Provisional Race One Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Marco MELANDRI, Italy (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), 25 laps, 35:07.782
2. Sylvain GUINTOLI, France (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), -0.905 second
3. Tom SYKES, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -6.627 seconds
4. Davide GIUGLIANO, Italy (Ducati 1199 Panigale R), -13.574
5. Toni ELIAS, Spain (Aprilia RSV4 Factory), -13.855
6. Jonathan REA, UK (Honda CBR1000RR), -15.575, ran off track
7. Leon HASLAM, UK (Honda CBR1000RR), -18.820
8. Alex LOWES, UK (Suzuki GSX-R1000), -20.184
9. Loris BAZ, France (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -34.479
10. David SALOM, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), EVO, -37.463
11. Niccolo CANEPA, Italy (Ducati 1199 Panigale R), EVO, -45.440
12. Sylvain BARRIER, France (BMW S1000RR), EVO, -47.538
13. Christian IDDON, UK (Bimota BB3), EVO, -48.321
14. Bryan STARING, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-10R), EVO, -49.750
15. Jeremy GUARNONI, France (Kawasaki ZX-10R), EVO, -55.420
16. Leon CAMIER, UK (MV Agusta F4 RR), -58.449
17. Alessandro ANDREOZZI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10R), EVO, -68.922, ran off track
18. Gabor RIZMAYER, Hungary (BMW S1000RR), -77.853
19. Geoff MAY, USA (EBR 1190RX), -78.084
20. Chris ULRICH, USA (Honda CBR1000RR), -1 lap
21. Sheridan MORAIS, South Africa (Kawasaki ZX-10R), EVO, -3 laps, pitted
22. Larry PEGRAM, USA (EBR 1190RX), -3 laps, DNF, mechanical
23. Peter SEBESTYEN, Hungary (BMW S1000RR), EVO, -10 laps, DNF, crash
24. Aaron YATES, USA (EBR 1190RX), -12 laps, DNF, retired
25. Eugene LAVERTY, Ireland (Suzuki GSX-R1000), -18 laps, DNF, mechanical
26. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (Bimota BB3), EVO, -18 laps, DNF, retired
27. Chaz DAVIES, UK (Ducati 1199 Panigale R), -24 laps, DNF, crash
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
Melandri heads Aprilia one-two in first race
Laguna Seca (California, USA), Sunday 13 July 2014 – After 25 thrilling laps, Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) has won the opening race of the day at Laguna Seca. The Italian rider adds another victory to his tally of 16 WSBK race wins reaching the likes of Giancarlo Falappa, Neil Hodgson and James Toseland.
Starting from Pole Position it was Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) who initially took the holeshot into turn one ahead of the works Aprilia duo of Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli who both passed the reigning champion at the end of lap one after Sykes made a mistake at the Corkscrew.
Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team) crashed spectacularly from 4th on lap two as the leading three began to edge away from the fast starting Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) who was promoted to fourth after the Ducati rider’s departure.
By quarter race distance the circuit lap record set in 2013 had been smashed and the top three riders had a comfortable gap over the chasing pack.
As the race entered the final third, the tense battle at the front intensified as Guintoli applied the pressure to his Italian team mate with Sykes watching the action unfold in front of him before the Italian broke away.
At the flag it was a rather spread out affair with Melandri taking the win, his 3rd of the season ahead of Guintoli and Sykes who claimed the final podium place.
Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) finished a solid 4th with Toni Elias (Red Devils Roma Aprilia) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) completing the top 6.
In the battle of the EVO riders it was David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team) that took the honours coming home in a solid 10th with Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) 11th and Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia) 12th.
Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was classified 15th and took the final championship point on his debut for the Italian team.
Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) was a notable retirement as were Ayrton Badovini (Team Bimota Alstare), Aaron Yates (Team Hero EBR) and Peter Sebestyen (Team Toth BMW).