wSBK Press Release:
The second race of the day for the eni FIM Superbike World Championship was once again a close encounter, with reigning World Superbike Champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) coming out victorious to take an impressive double in front of his home crowd, just like one year ago.
The 23 lap race then saw a three way fight between Sylvain Guintoli and the Kawasaki Racing Team duo Loris Baz and Tom Sykes, with the #1 eventually pulling away in the final laps to claim his 18th career win in the series. Thanks to a masterful performance in both of today’s outings, Sykes now lies on top of the standings, 26 points ahead of Jonathan Rea and teammate Loris Baz.
2014 WSBK Donington -- Interview with double winner Sykes after Race 2:
Tom Sykes:
“Maybe race one was the best race of my career. We had a problem on the first laps of race one and Loris came quite aggressively in turn one. I lost some positions and in the first half a lap, on full lean angle the bike was cutting the power. I almost came into the pits but the Ninja cleared itself and after that the bike was working very well. In race two I knew Loris would have a good pace and Sylvain always goes well round Donington. I just kept pushing and took the lead and then the win. It is great to take another double and also take the championship lead again.”
The leading bunch of riders locked together in the early stages until a clash between first race podium finisher Alex Lowes and Marco Melandri at the Melbourne Hairpin split the group. Both riders eventually remounted their bikes, with Lowes recovering several places to end up 9th.
Alex Lowes:
“Leading my first World Superbike race was mega! Race 1 was good, although I struggled a bit towards the end. It’s the home race for both the team and myself, so I’m pleased with the result. I’m really disappointed about the second race, I had a good pace and I could have had another top 3 finish. I tried my best and I got away with a ninth place, even though my bike was damaged. We have proved we can run at the front and we’ll move on with the confidence gained here at Donington.”
Just as in race one Loris Baz took second position with Sylvain Guintoli taking the last podium place after a much stronger second race for the Frenchman.
Davide Giugliano recovered from his crash earlier to claim 4th.
Other factory Ducati rider Chaz Davies was a lonely 5th ahead of Rea who finished 6th. David Salom added to the celebrations for Kawasaki in the EVO category, by once again being the best classified rider, finishing a credible 10th overall.
Aaron Yates and Eugene Laverty fell before half distance, neither rider sustaining any injury. Laverty however was able to remount and salvage 3 points.
As in the opening race, Leon Camier and Geoff May were not on the grid, Camier nursing an injury sustained in yesterday’s Tissot-Superpole, May unable to take part due to an ongoing technical problem.
Results:
1. Sykes (Kawasaki) 23 Laps/92.529 km in 34'14.134 average 162.163 kph
2. Baz (Kawasaki) 3.678
3. Guintoli (Aprilia) 7.376
4. Giugliano (Ducati) 10.827
5. Davies (Ducati) 15.140
6. Rea (Honda) 17.975
7. Haslam (Honda) 33.737
8. Elias (Aprilia) 40.362
9. Lowes (Suzuki) 41.465
10. Salom (Kawasaki) 48.929
11. Canepa (Ducati) 49.229
12. Corti (MV Agusta) 57.984
13. Laverty (Suzuki) 1'00.751
14. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 1'01.697
15. Andreozzi (Kawasaki) 1'03.349
16. Morais (Kawasaki) 1'03.820
17. Melandri (Aprilia) 1'05.485
18. Foret (Kawasaki) 1'11.049
19. Lanusse (Kawasaki) 1'15.943
20. Toth (BMW) 1 Lap; RT. Yates (EBR)
SH. Badovini (Bimota) 40.579
SH. Iddon (Bimota) 47.949
Standings (Round 5 of 13):
1. Sykes 185
2. Rea 159
3. Baz 159
4. Guintoli 148
5. Davies 109
6. Melandri 97
7. Giugliano 82
8. Haslam 75
9. Lowes 73
10. Laverty 65
11. Elias 65
12. Salom 46
13. Canepa 38
14. Camier 20
15. Scassa 16
16. Foret 14
17. Guarnoni 12
18. Corti 10
19. Morais 10
20. Allerton 6
21. Bos 5
22. Andreozzi 4
23. Fabrizio 2
Manufacturers:
1. Kawasaki 193
2. Aprilia 162
3. Honda 159
4. Ducati 137
5. Suzuki 115
6. BMW 26
7. MV Agusta 10
World Supersport:
After a thrilling 20 lap World Supersport race at Donington Park, Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) has taken his second win of the season after a tense final three corners saw him fend off Jules Cluzel.
Kev Coghlan was back on the podium, taking the final place on the rostrum after being in the leading fight until the closing stages.
Former World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu suffered another technical problem while leading but unlike in recent races the Turk was able to bring his machine home in 4th at the flag, unlike Lorenzo Zanetti who retired after his engine let go at Coppice Corner while the Italian was fighting for the lead.
Florian Marino was classified 5th after working his way through the field from his lowly grid position. His team mate PJ Jacobsen was 6th.
Wildcard rider Sam Hornsey finished a respectable 16th overall.
2014 WSS Donington -- Interview with WSS race winner van der Mark:
Results:
1. Vd Mark (Honda) 20 Laps/80.460 km in 30'47.132 average 156.814 kph
2. Cluzel (MV Agusta) 0.114
3. Coghlan (Yamaha) 1.266
4. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 1.556
5. Marino (Kawasaki) 7.472
6. Jacobsen (Kawasaki) 10.557
7. Kennedy (Honda) 13.952
8. Tamburini (Kawasaki) 14.783
9. De Rosa (Honda) 15.363
10. Rolfo (Kawasaki) 16.585
11. Bussolotti (Honda) 22.829
12. Wilairot (Honda) 24.005
13. Russo (Honda) 38.908
14. Nocco (Kawasaki) 45.198
15. Leonov (MV Agusta) 46.175
Standings (Round 5 of 12):
1. Vd Mark 90
2. Marino 76
3. Cluzel 62
4. Coghlan 60
5. Zanetti 49
6. De Rosa 45
7. Sofuoglu 38
8. Tamburini 37
9. Rolfo 36
10. Jacobsen 32
11. Wahr 23
12. Bussolotti 21
13. Russo 21
14. Menghi 19
15. Kennedy 19
16. Gamarino 16
17. Leonov 13
18. Wilairot 13
19. Gowland 9
20. Nocco 8
21. Coveña 6
22. Schmitter 3
23. Calero 3
24. Rogers 1
Manufacturers:
1. Honda 111
2. Kawasaki 87
3. Yamaha 70
4. MV Agusta 70
5. Triumph 9
For more information: www.worldsbk.com