Motul FIM Superbike World Championship
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, San Marino
June 18, 2017
Race Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Marco MELANDRI, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), 21 laps, Total Race Time 33:40.896, Best Lap Time 1:35.615
2. Jonathan REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), -1.113 seconds, 1:35.586
3. Tom SYKES, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), -1.285, 1:35.725
4. Michael VAN DER MARK, Netherlands (Yamaha YZF-R1), -13.364, 1:35.771
5. Eugene LAVERTY, Ireland (Aprilia RSV4 RF), -19.917, 1:36.153
6. Lorenzo SAVADORI, Italy (Aprilia RSV4 RF), -26.019, 1:36.507
7. Raffaele DE ROSA, Italy (BMW S1000RR), -29.724, 1:36.872
8. Randy KRUMMENACHER, Switzerland (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), -30.183, 1:36.383
9. Leandro MERCADO, Argentina (Aprilia RSV4 RF), -37.447, 1:36.679
10. Stefan BRADL, Germany (Honda CBR1000RR), -42.651, 1:37.019
11. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), -57.524, 1:37.918
12. Ondrej JEZEK, Czech Republic (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), -70.654, 1:38.257
13. Jordi TORRES, Spain (BMW S1000RR), -4 laps, DNF, mechanical, 1:35.602
14. Leon CAMIER, UK (MV Agusta 1000 F4), -7 laps, DNF, mechanical, 1:36.236
15. Alex LOWES, UK (Yamaha YZF-R1), -10 laps, DNF, crash, 1:35.650
16. Alex DE ANGELIS, San Marino (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), -15 laps, DNF, crash, 1:37.053
17. Xavi FORÉS, Spain (Ducati Panigale R), -15 laps, DNF, retired, 1:35.677
18. Fabio MENGHI, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), -15 laps, DNF, crash, 1:39.936
19. Roman RAMOS, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10RR), -18 laps, DNF, mechanical, 1:36.521
20. Chaz DAVIES, UK (Ducati Panigale R), DNS
21. Riccardo RUSSO, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R1), DNS
World Championship Point Standings (after 14 of 26 races):
1. Rea, 296 points
2. Sykes, 246
3. Davies, 185
4. Melandri, 163
5. Lowes, 141
6. Van Der Mark, 115
7. Fores, 110
8. Camier, 89
9. Torres, 85
10. Laverty, 79
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team:
Top-10 for Bradl at Misano in race two
Italian Round
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Italy
The closing race of the ‘Riviera di Rimini Round’ of the 2017 FIM Superbike World Championship was contested today at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Stefan Bradl and the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team rounded out the top-10 in what was another hot and eventful 21-lap race around the 4.226km Italian track.
Bradl maintained his position at the start of the race while steadily making his way up to tenth place, which he reached on the 18th lap. From then on, Stefan rode the remaining laps on his own to retain tenth at the chequered flag.
The next round of the World Superbike championship will take place in a three-weekend’s time at Laguna Seca, United States of America.
Stefan Bradl 6
10th
Today’s race was surely a better one, but it wasn’t easy! After four laps, I had some problems with the dashboard. It took me a couple of laps to figure that out and once I realised everything else was OK, I could find a bit of pace back and finish the race. Tenth place is not a bad result, especially given the circumstances, but obviously we need to find some direction for the next round because this weekend has been quite difficult for everyone.
Pieter Breddels
Once again it was not an easy race for us. Unlike yesterday, the bike was working OK and Stefan put together a great effort by riding the bike home in tenth place despite the issue with the dashboard. We now have some time to prepare for the next race at Laguna and we will work hard to be ready for it.
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Podium Finishes For Rea and Sykes At Misano
Jonathan Rea (KRT) and Tom Sykes (KRT) both reached the second race podium at the Misano round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, with Jonathan finishing second and Tom third. They continue to sit 1-2 in the championship, with 50 points between them after the seventh intense weekend of the season.
Under the new championship rules in allocating grid places for race two, race one winner Sykes and third placed Rea had to start today’s 21 lap contest from ninth and seventh places respectively. The KRT riders moved forward with determination in the first corners, to put Tom third and Jonathan fourth after just one lap.
Up front Xavi Fores and Jordi Torres were doing the early front-running but neither would ultimately finish, in a race that was eventually won by local rider Marco Melandri. Only 12 riders were classified after seven others failed to make the finish in the hot conditions today.
With Torres a late retiree Rea ended up with 20 points for his second place over the line, having passed Sykes on lap 15, but he was unable to get quite close enough to challenge for the win. Sykes finished very close to his team-mate at the end of the 21-laps, with all top three riders covered by just 1.285 seconds after another intense Misano race.
Rea leads the championship as it passes into the second half of the season after this round, with 296 points to Sykes’ 246. With Chaz Davies ruled out of the second Misano WorldSBK race after suffering an injury in race one, he is now 61 points behind Tom.
After the completion of the Misano weekend the championship now heads to the ever-popular Laguna Seca circuit in the USA for the eighth round of the championship, with racedays on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “I am really satisfied with the results today but unfortunately we could not challenge for the win because I felt we were struggling a little bit, as the rear tyre was completely out of balance. I was having a lot of rear vibration and chatter. That was really difficult to manage. I focused on trying to pass Tom for many laps and when I went through I tried to hunt down Torres in second place but, unfortunately for him, he had a problem and could not finish. We have to be very satisfied with the result and go back into the garage now to understand exactly why we struggled more today. Yesterday’s bike felt much better but the set-up was virtually the same each day. In the championship standings we are in a good position right now. I also wish Chaz Davies a speedy recovery from injury.”
Tom Sykes, stated: “I basically expected more from the beginning of the race. I had a good start and made some nice early passes but unfortunately I was not able to take the best from the tyres or the bike. The first five laps were the downfall of my chances to win the race. Apart from that, towards the end we had good speed but like I explained to the boys in the team, my bike stayed consistent but it was not enough in the beginning. I feel it really affected the race result in those early laps when there was no way to challenge Jordi Torres and Xavi Fores. We have something to work on Laguna. I feel really sorry for Chaz Davies and all I can do is wish him a speedy recovery. The points are opening up behind and that was a big bag of points Jonathan and I took away this weekend.”
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli Day Three
Marvelous Melandri takes 100th Italian victory at Misano
Dramatic WorldSBK race two as Kawasaki complete the podium
At the Pirelli Riviera Di Rimini Round on Sunday it was home rider Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who took a stunning first win of 2017, with Kawasaki Racing Team pair Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes also on the podium.
Responding positively to his last lap crash in Race 1, Melandri came from tenth on the grid to return to winning ways with a +1.113s victory over Rea. It was Melandri’s first WorldSBK win since 2014 and the 100th victory for an Italian rider in the top class of the championship.
The second place result for World Champion Rea strengthened his title defence as he now leads the standings by 50 points after seven rounds. It was also a successful weekend for Sykes as he followed up on his Race 1 win with another podium result to continue his excellent recent form.
Starting from pole Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) had held the lead for 8 laps but he was hugely frustrated to drop out of the race with a technical problem with just 3 laps to go when riding in second place.
The top five was completed by Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) and Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia), with the Dutchman crossing the line fourth and the Irishman fifth.
Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia), Raffaele de Rosa (Althea BMW Racing Team), Randy Krummenacher (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Leandro Mercado (IODARacing) and Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) completed the top ten.
Only 12 riders finished the race at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, with the likes of Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Xavi Fores (BARNI Racing Team) and Roman Ramos (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) all retiring with technical problems.
With 10 laps to go Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) went down at Turn 2 and he was unable to finish the race.
After his crash in Race 1 Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was unfit to race on Sunday, having suffered a closed thoracic trauma, a fracture of the transverse process of L3 (3rd lumbar vertebrae) and a contusion of the left thumb.
The WorldSBK riders will next be in action at the Geico US Round over the 7th to 9th July weekend.
P1 – Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“It was not easy, I had so many good races at the beginning of the season and then we dropped off, but we made some good changes after the test so the bike works a lot better for me. To win here and in front of all of Ducati, all my family and friends is unbelievable for me to explain.”
P2 – Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team)
“Honestly the race was very difficult and I didn’t have too much more pace to give .We only made some minor changes to yesterday, but the bike felt completely different. I am happy with the result but disappointed in the bike and myself. At the mid point of the season its good to get a good set of points under our belts.”
P3 – Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team)
“Today I was a lot closer but I am disappointed in the early laps, for some reason I use the bike and tyres to their full potential. We made some good passes early on, but when we got to Torres and Fores I wanted to go but I didn’t have the rear traction. However the positive is that we had a good weekend in general.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team wins Race 2 at Misano with Marco Melandri. Chaz Davies watched the race from the pits after being discharged from the hospital
After a difficult Sunday, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team bounced back in Race 2 at Misano Adriatico (Italy) with a masterful win by Marco Melandri. The Italian rider, who crashed out yesterday during the last lap while fighting for the win, mounted a spectacular comeback from 10th position on the grid to take his maiden victory with the Panigale R and his 20th overall in WorldSBK.
Declared unfit for Race 2 due to a fracture of the transverse process of L3 (3rd lumbar vertebra) and a contusion of the left thumb caused by a crash in Race 1, Chaz Davies watched the race from the pits after being discharged from the hospital. The Welshman will now observe a period of rest with the intention to be back on track for the eighth round of the season, scheduled for July 7-9 at Laguna Seca (U.S.).
After seven rounds, Davies and Melandri are respectively third (185 points) and fourth (163 points) in the championship.
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #33) – 1st
“This win means so much to me. It’s my first with Ducati and first on Italian soil but also the 100th by an Italian rider in WorldSBK. It’s the result of a lot of efforts, a composed attitude during some difficult moments, and great teamwork. We never stopped to believe in ourselves, and this result is a payback for all the sacrifices. We made a small change to our setup this morning, and before the start I was sure I could have a go at it. During the race, I tried to manage my pace and, once I took the lead, to ride smoothly. I hope Chaz recovers soon, he had a nasty crash but fortunately without serious injuries. I hope to be able to fight for another win, this time with him on track as well, at Laguna Seca.”
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7)
“It’s never ideal to be at the track and not be able to race, but it’s good to come to support and honestly I’m happy to be here because it could have been a lot worse. I don’t feel 100 percent, so we’ll focus on recovering in the upcoming days. Tomorrow I’ll visit a specialist and we’ll set a plan based on his recommendations. The goal is be back at Laguna Seca.”
Stefano Cecconi, Aruba S.p.A. CEO & Team Principal
“After a terrible Saturday, it was important to get back on the right track as soon as possible. Today we put to fruition our potential, which was clear yesterday as well. Marco’s win is particularly important, because it’s his first with the team and the first in a long time by an Italian rider on an Italian bike. It was good to have Chaz with us, despite the pain, and we hope he recovers quickly to come back in full shape and join the action at Laguna Seca.”
More, from a press release issued by Althea BMW Racing:
Torres and Althea BMW denied the podium at Misano; Faccani wins the Stock1000 race
Misano Adriatico (Italy), Sunday 18 June 2017
The seventh World Superbike round has concluded at the Misano World Circuit and it proved to be a bittersweet one for the ’Althea BMW Racing Team. Unfortunately, Jordi Torres, having led the race for several laps and comfortably in line for a podium finish, suffered a tyre issue on lap 18 which prevented him from finishing what was easily, until that point, the best race of his season so far. Raffaele De Rosa did well to finish race 2 in seventh place today.
In the Stock1000, in what became a race of two parts, Marco Faccani scored his first win of the season!
Superbike – Race 2 – Starting from pole today (thanks to his fourth place finish in race 1), Torres was lying second though the opening laps, right behind leader Forés. On lap four the Althea rider was able to pass his fellow countryman to take the lead. Holding this position for several laps, Jodi was passed by the factory Ducati of Melandri on lap nine, but the battle between the Spaniard and the Italian continued through the subsequent laps. Unfortunately though, Torres lost his chance to step onto the podium when a rear tyre problem, on lap 18, forced him to stop. A very disappointing end after a fantastic performance by the Spaniard.
De Rosa, 15th on the grid, made up some ground early on, placing 13th. Earning another couple of places as the race went on, the Italian was lying tenth by mid-race. With a fast and constant pace, Raffaele continued to improve, closing today’s race in seventh place, his best result of the season so far.
STK1000 – Race – from third on the grid, Faccani made a very strong start to position second. He maintained that position through the first laps and all was well until lap ten when the race was stopped with a red flag after a crash for Sandi left oil on the track. The race was restarted, shortened to just five laps, and this time Faccani was lying third, battling with Razgatlioglu and Sandi for the podium spots. On the last lap, the Althea BMW kicked into gear and went all out to catch race leader Rinaldi, passing him in the very final stages with a spectacular move that saw him score his first win of the season!
Having now concluded round seven, Torres lies ninth in the standings with 85 points while De Rosa has 27 points, placing 17th. In the Stock1000 category, after five rounds, Faccani is fifth with 52 points.
“We were convinced we could do well today. I started strong, making the most of being on pole. Having no-one up ahead helped, I could take my lines, get into a rhythm. I ran my race, pushing to the limit, giving 100% all the way. I ran with Melandri for several laps and continued to push but then four laps from the end, I felt some vibration and the rear was sliding around, I realised it was the same issue we had at Assen in race 1. I thank my Althea guys, who came up with a significant chassis solution that we’d never tried before, that allowed me to find the right level of confidence and fully express myself. I’m so sorry I was unable to finish the race, but we have to take today’s performance and carry it to Laguna…”
Jordi Torres:
“Today went better than yesterday but it’s a pity we couldn’t have reached the top ten yesterday to start a little further forward today, with the inverted grid. Anyway, I’m quite pleased because slowly, step by step, we are managing to improve. It was easy in today’s conditions, I tried to catch up as much as possible and maintain a good pace. Now we’ll take this result and try to build on it race by race.”
Raffaele da Rosa:
“What a race! I’m so happy for the team, for me, everyone! It was very tough in the first part of the race, with a really fast pace to keep. I held on and then pushed to the max again in the second heat. I knew I had to try on the last lap and I did it. What can I say, I’m very happy, we needed this. I thank everyone for their support, the team, the sponsors, we did a great job here and I hope we can continue like this.”