WSBK : Tom Sykes does the double at Donington

from Twowheelsblog 

Just like in race 1 at Donington Park, Tom Sykes set an untouchable rhythm for the rest of the field as he raced to another lights-to-flag victory and moved to a second place in the standings just four points behind standings leader Sylvain Guintoli.

The Kawasaki rider got the hole shot and with the higher track temperatures as he lowered the race lap record that Jonathan Rea had set in race 1 and won with more than an 8 second margin - he had a 3 second lead after five laps -on Sylvain Guintoli who raced to a lonely second place after getting rid of team mate Eugene Laverty on lap 5.

Aprilia’s Eugene Laverty completed the podium after he passed a struggling Marco Melandri at the end of the penultimate lap. Melandri struggled throughout the race having trouble stopping his BMW with his front tire giving him problems and while trying to return the attack on Laverty on the final lap ran wide at the Fogarty Esses, letting Davide Giugliano who had been hotly trailing the two riders, easily conquer the fourth position.

Melandri ended up in a disappointing fifth and ‘his season that starts now’ will have to be postponed for the next race at Portimao. Taking 6th was team mate Chaz Davies, who had a rather anonymous race after losing contact with Giugliano and Melandri.

Loris Baz rode to a lonely 7th and more than 11 seconds separated him from Davies and more than 27 seconds from his winning team mate. Wildcard Niccolò Canepa was the only Ducati Alstare rider who finished the race, after Checa’s pullout and Ayrton Badovini crashed out at turn 2 during the 18th lap. The Superstock rider brought home the Panigale in 8th ahead of Jules Cluzel, while Suzuki team mate Leon Camier crashed out at turn 12 and rejoined to finish in 13th.

Michel Fabrizio closed out the top ten, while Jonathan Rea battled with arm pump issues and running off track at the Esses trying to battle with Canepa and Cluzel didn’t help as the Pata Honda rider continued to fade and finish in a disappointing 11th place.

2013 WSBK Donington Race 2 Results:

1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 34′06.921
2. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 34′14.956
3. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 34′17.659
4. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 34′19.178
5. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 34′22.897
6. Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 34′23.396
7. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 34′34.445
8. Niccolò Canepa (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 34′37.107
9. Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 34′37.422
10. Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 34′37.806

SCRAM AFRICA 2013 : LA VIDEO

WSBK : Tom Sykes takes impressive victory in race 1 at Donington

FRom TWOWHEELSBLOG

After dominating all the sessions this weekend at Donington Park, Tom Sykes put in his pocket his second win of the season, after Assen, with a lights-to-flag victory at the British circuit.

The Kawasaki rider played hare and greyhound in the first race, never really contested by the rest of the field even if Jonathan Rea pressured him for the first six laps - with the fastest lap of the race and breaking the record - with Sylvain Guintoli and team mate Eugene Laverty trailing the two front runners, but the Northern Irishman on lap 8 after Marco Melandri overtook him, ran off track at the Fogarty Esses dropping behind Chaz Davies and directly into a battling group made up Althea’s Davide Giugliano and Loris Baz.

As the laps began to count down, Jonathan Rea began to fade struggling with right arm issues and as began to loose touch Guintoli reached him and then overtook with nine laps to go and the same move was repeated by Marco Melandri on lap 15, and by lap 18 the BMW rider caught and passed the Frenchman at the Goddards and sped away.

Further down the field Eugene Laverty was struggling with the aggressive Baz and Giugliano who passed the Aprilia rider on lap 20 to continue their paint swapping and leaving Laverty to lick his wounds.

With three laps left the positions were more or less frozen with only Michel Fabrizio gaining the 10th spot denying a bevy of Ducati riders, that turned into a Ducati cup over thhe finish line with Ayrton Badovini who still is suffering with ankle issues, pipping team mate Carlo Checa with his shoulder issue, and wildcard entry Niccolò Canepa finishing ahead of MR Racing’s Max Neukirchner.

Sykes would cross under the chequered flag with a comfortable 2.3 second margin followed by Melandri and Guintoli who completed the podium.

Prodigy frontman Keith Flint was no doubt upset to see friend Leon Camier crash out on lap four, while Leon Haslam decided to withdraw - his team insisted - from the round unable to continue the weekend riding with his leg giving him problems on the left corners, will see him at Portimao.

2013 WSBK Donington Race 1 Results:

1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 34′10.881
2. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 34′13.260
3. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 34′14.689
4. Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 34′17.641
5. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 34′24.530
6. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 34′26.432
7. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 34′28.334
8. Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 34′30.019
9. Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 34′38.619
10. Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 34′41.698

Classic Driver Concours d'Elegance

With one of the calendar’s best-known concours about to commence on the shores of Lake Como, we decided to hold our very own, albeit with a slight twist: our ‘Best in Class’ beauties are all currently for sale.

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Best of the Future Classics: 2009 Maserati Quattroporte Bellagio by Touring


We’ve already considered the merits of a Mk 5 Quattroporte as a modern classic, but the Bellagio has that extra facet of desirability, having been fashioned by Touring using traditional coachbuilding techniques. Just four were built – this being the first – and the only oversight during its transformation seems to be forgetting to re-christen the now hatchbacked Maserati as a ‘Cinqueporte’. 

It will soon be auctioned off as part of RM’s Villa Erba sale, taking place a stone’s throw from the Bellagio’s namesake province. 

View this auction lot on Classic Driver >>

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Best of Pre-War: 1939 Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupé


Lagonda V12s are a mainstay of the concours circuit; their rarity, W.O. Bentley-designed engine and air of pre-War British majesty all contribute towards the car’s desirability. And few are more desirable than this 7,500-mile example, ordered new by Briggs Cunningham with unique coachwork and a Le Mans-spec engine. 

Buy this Lagonda V12 on Classic Driver >>

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Best of Italian Elegance: 1970 Lamborghini Miura S


Miura. Not a lot more needs to be said. Presented here in the interesting combination of white on beige, this low-mileage S is one of our favourite cars in the Marketplace at the moment. 

Buy this Miura on Classic Driver>>

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Best of French Coachwork: 1938 Delahaye 135M 2 Seat Coupé


Delahaye 135s are famed for their combination of extreme rarity (all were sent to various domestic coachbuilders, making many completely unique) and a competition bloodline: the late 30s saw wins at Le Mans and the Monte Carlo Rally. What's more, with ‘The Great Gatsby’ set to return pre-War fashion to the fore – much like ‘Mad Men’ did with 60s style – the present seems like a better time than ever to secure a svelte example of French coachwork at its finest. 

Buy this Delahaye on Classic Driver >>

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Best of Show: 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Pinin Farina


With so many stunners to choose from, why have we chosen this as our Best of Show? In a word: simplicity. This Ferrari 250 GT, styled by Pinin Farina in 1958, has no frills, just perfect proportions. And that, to us, is what sums up true class – elegance without fuss.

View this auction lot on Classic Driver >>

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Text: Classic Driver
Photos: Classic Driver Dealers / Auction Houses