Tom Sykes runs away with race 1 at Moscow

World Superbikes race 1 at the Moscow Raceway began on a wet, but drying circuit and all the rider but two decided to start on slicks and Tom Sykes - who renewed for another season with Kawasaki -dominated from start-to-finish to take his second victory of the season, in an action packed and eventful race with unexpected Marco Melandri and Max Biaggi taking the second and third spot on the podiums after Eugene Laverty - probably on team orders - conceded his position to his Aprilia team mate at the final turn of the last lap.

The Grinner got the holeshot followed by Leon Haslam and Eugene Laverty and poleman Carlos Checa, and notwithstanding the treacherous asphalt there were several risky and spectacular overtakes on the first lap with Haslam taking the second spot while Sykes started to put a massive amount of space between himself and the rest of the field. On lap three Jonathan Rea put a move on Checa and touched the Althea Ducati’s handlebars sending the Spaniard tumbling into the gravel pit - and the reigning World Champion’s hopes to fight and retain the title seems to be definitely over.

Chaz Davies started a devilish charge up the field and caught the second group of riders and caught Leon Haslam who previously ran off track and found himself in fourth behind Laverty and an aggressive Davide Giugliano and Jonathan Rea but the Honda rider’s race for the podium finished on lap 11 when he crashed out.

With Sykes always the leader and on a track that was almost completely dry, Melandri who was riding in a distant sixth began sensibily lowering his lap times with a Max Biaggi even further behind also started to speed up. Giugliano who was riding in third lost two spots to Davies and Haslam and just a few turns later crashed out probably to a worn out rear tire.

With 9 laps left, Davies with a spectacular overtake on Eugene Laverty which made him lose two spots because Haslam and Melandri also took advantage of the situation. Two laps later the BMW rider attacked Davies and the two bashed fairings losing positions and crashed but both were able to rejoin in fourth and sixth, as Melandri suddenly found himself second ahead of Laverty, Davies, Biaggi and Haslam.

On the third and final lap Davies retook the third spot only to run wide and touch the wet grass and crash out while Michele Fabrizio caught a struggling Haslam.

Sykes would cross under the chequered flag with more than an eight second margin followed by Melandri and Biaggi who continues to lead in the standings, albeit by just 6.5 points, while Laverty who lost 1,4 seconds in one turn was fourth. Michel Fabrizio finished in fifth ahead of Leon Haslam. Niccolò Canepa ended up as the best Ducati rider in 7th ahead of Lorenzo Zanetti who out performed his new team mate Sylvain Guintoli -who DNF), while John Hopkins and David Salom closed out the top ten.

WSBK Moscow Race 1 Results:

1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 41’07.852
2. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 41’16.730
3. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 41’20.455
4. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 41’20.879
5. Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 41’37.434
6. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 41’38.439
7. Niccolò Canepa (Red Devils Roma) Ducati 1098R 41’40.022
8. Lorenzo Zanetti (PATA Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 41’42.556
9. John Hopkins (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 41’48.218
10. David Salom (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 41’48.995
11. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 41’52.215

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