2012 WORLD SUPERBIKES - ROUND 11 - JUST BIKES

2012 World Superbikes - Round 11

The track layout was by Hermann Tilke, the renowned designer who has been the architect of many of the world's top race circuits for the last ten years. Designed for bikes and cars, Moscow Raceway is approximately 4 kms in length (3.920 kms for the WSBK round), with an 879 metre main straight and an elevation change of 20 metres.

With no history at the circuit, no rider had an advantage, and given the rain-soaked Silverstone round, there was no real form guide going into this round either, so qualifying attracted a lot of interest. Althea Racing Ducati's Davide Giugliano topped the time sheets early, but come Superpole, Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati), Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Aprilia Racing Team's Eugene Laverty recorded times that put them on the front row. Row two was made of Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad), Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team), Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) and Giugliano.

RACE 1
The opening World Superbike race at the Moscow Raceway began under overcast skies, with morning rain leading to the race being declared wet. Sykes got the early jump, with Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad), Laverty and polesitter Checa in close pursuit. Checa crashed out on lap 3, which elevated Giugliano up the leader board.

As the race progressed, Sykes maintained a lead over first Laverty, then Davies. Rea crashed out on lap 11, while Haslam was making his way back into the top four following an earlier off-track excursion. Melandri was cutting through the field, too, and came within striking distance of Sykes with five laps remaining. Both Melandri and Laverty benefitted from a collision between Haslam and Davies on lap 18. While both riders remained upright, they dropped out of podium contention.

After lingering at the tail end of the top ten for much of the race, Biaggi came on song in the closing laps, and was ready to make a play for the podium when Davies crashed out on the penultimate lap. On team orders, Laverty allowed Biaggi through on the final lap so the Italian could take the final podium place behind racewinner Sykes, who made history as the first Superbike winner at the Russian circuit, and Melandri. A wasp sting during the race wasn't enough to slow Melandri's seemingly inexorable march to the championship lead.

RACE 2
With the circuit totally dry in race two, the opening lap claimed Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet), David McFadden (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) and Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team). Ahead of the tail end crashes, Sykes once again led the way from Laverty, Haslam and Melandri.

The real drama unfolded on lap 10 when Biaggi crashed into the back of Haslam under braking, bringing down both riders. This opened up an opportunity for Melandri, who started by narrowing the gap to Sykes, then passed the Kawasaki rider to take the lead on lap 15.

In the closing few laps, Melandri had to fight to keep Sykes from retaking the lead, rarely more than a second separating the two. Rea and Laverty were also in hot pursuit of the leading pair, but their battle for the final podium place saw both riders crash on the final lap. While Rea was able to recover and finish in seventh, Laverty DNF'd, bringing a sour end to what had started as a promising weekend.

A last lap charge from Sykes wasn't enough to overhaul Melandri, who ended up winning by less than a second, while the Laverty/Rea tangle gifted the final podium spot to Davies. Checa and Leon Camier (Crescent Fixi Suzuki) came home fourth and fifth respectively.

While the win was welcome, more important for Melandri was the valuable points he secured. With Biaggi's race 2 DNF, Melandri moved to the head of the championship table for the first time this season and holds an 18.5 point advantage going into the next round at Germany's Nurburgring.

"For race two, the team made a small modification to the bike and I felt very good from the first lap," Melandri said. "Once I saw Biaggi was out I understood I had the chance to try to get a win and I did.

"We have no time to think about defending our lead, because six races are a lot and anything can still happen. We have to stay focused and work hard and if I have the chance to fight for a win I will try to get it."

2012 WORLD SUPERBIKE RESULTS - MOSCOW

Race one: 25 laps
1 - Tom Sykes Kawasaki
2 - Marco Melandri BMW +8.878
3 - Max Biaggi Aprilia +12.603
4 - Eugene Laverty Aprilia +13.027
5 - Michel Fabrizio BMW +29.582
6 - Leon Haslam BMW +30.587
7 - Niccolo Canepa Ducati +32.170
8 - Lorenzo Zanetti Ducati +34.704
9 - John Hopkins Suzuki +40.366
10 - David Salom Kawasaki +41.143
Fastest lap and founding record: Haslam - 1'36.729

Race two: 25 laps
1 - Marco Melandri BMW 40'14.677
2 - Tom Sykes Kawasaki +0.976
3 - Chaz Davies Aprilia +4.213
4 - Carlos Checa Ducati +5.954
5 - Leon Camier Suzuki +13.568
6 - Davide Giugliano Ducati +15.173
7 - Jonathan Rea Honda +23.125
8 - Ayrton Badovini BMW +23.696
9 - Loris Baz Kawasaki +23.884
10 - Lorenzo Zanetti Ducati +24.096
Fastest lap and new record: Melandri - 1'35.974

CURRENT WORLD SUPERBIKE STANDINGS (AFTER 11 OF 14 ROUNDS)
1 - Melandri 308.5
2 - Biaggi 290
3 - Sykes 267.5
4 - Checa 233.5
5 - Rea 212.5
6 - Haslam 180
7 - Laverty 173.5
8 - Guintoli 127.5
9 - Fabrizio 119.5
10 - Giugliano 116

Next round: Nurburgring, September 7-9