WSBK : Eugene Laverty takes victory in race 2 at P.I.

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

Phillip Island has officially become an Aprilia stronghold. After a 1-2-3 podium in race 1 with a victory by Sylvain Guintoli, race 2 saw team mate Eugene Laverty take the win - his second with the Italian manufacturer. Completing the podium was a beat up and bruised Marco Melandri, who gritted his teeth to take third after being taken out by Carlos Checa.

With Checa is the hospital, Laverty moved into the pole position and when the lights turned green, it was Tom Sykes that got the holeshot, but he would soon lose it on the fifth lap to a hard charging Guintoli who would lead almost the entire race, but during the 20th lap and posting the fastest lap in the race, Eugene Laverty would pass first Melandri and then at the end of the straight outbrake his team mate and race to the victory.

Melandri would never lead the race, but he did get to second and then manage to hold off Michele Fabrizio who was ready to attack in the final corners, but the Red Devils Aprilia rider would then make a small mistake and lose touch with BMW rider. Fabrizio finished fourth and ahead of Tom Sykes who would take another fifth place, with tire issues.

Davide Giugliano was sixth and this time was at least be able to finish the race after he DNF’d in race 1 and he was ahead of Jules Cluzel. After all his pre-season crashes and technical difficulties during the weekend, the French rider was no doubt relieved about the position as he finished ahead of his team mate Leon Camier who was only 9th, lamenting tire problems.

Jonathan Rea couldn’t celebrate his 100th Superbike race as he was only 8th. Leon Haslam finished 10th and his race was ruined by Chaz Davies who tangles with Loris Baz. The Kawasaki rider was stretchered off with a foot injury, while Davies was able to rejoin, but he suffered a flat and had to return to his garage to change his tire, and then was given a ride through, as more than three mechanics worked on his BMW and the new pitting rules now forbid it.

WSBK Phillip Island Race 2 results:

01- Eugene Laverty – Aprilia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – 22 lap in 33’45.938
02- Sylvain Guintoli – Aprilia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 0.418
03- Marco Melandri – BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team – BMW S1000RR HP4 – + 1.382
04- Michel Fabrizio – Red Devils Roma – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 2.282
05- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 11.545
06- Davide Giugliano – Althea Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 12.508
07- Jules Cluzel – FIXI Crescent Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 17.330
08- Jonathan Rea – Pata Honda World Superbike Team – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 17.339
09- Leon Camier – FIXI Crescent Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 19.886
10- Leon Haslam – Pata Honda World Superbike Team – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 19.996