Last-lap drama at Laguna Seca WSBK

Tom Sykes leads the Ducatis of Davide Giugliano and Chaz Davies in Race 2. Picture: WorldSBK

Tom Sykes leads the Ducatis of Davide Giugliano and Chaz Davies in Race 2. Picture: WorldSBK

Published Jul 11, 2016

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Monterey, California – Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes gave the works Kawasaki team another pair of wins at the series’ most intimidating circuit on Sunday.

But a red flag and a last-corner clash in Race 2 ensured a dramatic ending to the day in a last lap showdown that had the crowd on its feet.

RACE 1

Superpole winner Sykes got away in the lead, heading Ducati’s Chaz Davies, who got a superb start from the second row and Rea at the end of lap one. With the front three close together and Davide Giugliano on the second Ducati Team machine leading Honda’s local hero Nicky Hayden in the chase, Davies took the lead with 21 laps to go - before pushing too hard on the front and sliding off into the gravel at Turn 6, out of contention.

With Rea and Sykes closer to Giugliano after Davies’ crash, the reigning champion then recovered from having gone slightly deep into the Corkscrew and began to put the hammer down.

Rea, who has never won at Laguna Seca and was only 0.055 off the Superpole-winning time set by team-mate Sykes, began to pull away from Sykes, until a mistake at the Corkscrew once more saw him lose the lead, and having to do the work again.

Rea eventually crossed the line more than a second clear to take his first victory at the California circuit, with Sykes second. Kentucky Kid, MotoGP legend and Honda World Superbike Team rider Nicky Hayden had warned against expecting miracles at his home venue, aware of the competition around him, but put in a superlative ride under pressure at home to come home third.

Hayden’s team-mate, 2014 World Supersport champion Michael van der Mark, moved up from 11th on the grid to hunt down the frontrunners, finishing fourth after blitzing Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia) and Pata Yamaha’s Alex Lowes in the closing stages.

Lowes came home fifith and Savadori, who had never before ridden at Laguna Seca, put in an impressive rookie ride to come home in the top six, ahead of Ducati privateer Xavi Forés and BMW rider Jordi Torres, with veteran Alex De Angelis on the second Aprilia and Niccolo Canepa on the second Yamaha completing the top 10.

RESULTS

RACE 2

Sykes got the hole shot again as Rea pulled a slight wheelie off the line - and Giugliano seized the moment to slot into second, ahead of Davies and Hayden.

The first few laps saw Van der Mark a high profile casualty, as he ran on a lost control of his Honda before rejoining down the field. soon after, MV Agusta lead rider Leon Camier was forced out by a technical problem, as was Aprilia veteran De Angelis.

Giugliano took the lead on lap three, ahead of Sykes, Rea and Davies, until a big crash for Polish Yamaha privateer brought out the red flags.

With the restarted race set for 21 laps, the quick restart procedure soon saw the bikes back on track, with Giugliano on pole for the restart from Sykes and Rea, and Van der Mark startin from the back row.

Giugliano lost the lead off the line to Sykes, before pushing the Kawasaki wide and taking it back, while Rea passed Rea to move up to third. The reigning champion fought back however, and set off to hunt down the leading duo.

An incredible tussle down the Corkscrew then saw the Kawasaki duo attack Giugliano and fight it out, before Rea went wide at Turn 6 and ran on, out of the running as he then stopped on the circuit with a technical problem.

With the leading trio of Sykes, Giugliano and Davies ahead and away, a six bike train of Hayden, Forés, Lowes, Torres, Van der Mark and Canepa battled it out for fourth, with positions swapping on every lap and the Corkscrew hosting another classic moment as Forés took the inside line after running a little deep, and Hayden refused to be overtaken.

A three-way fight for the win ensued with the two Ducatis fighting it out in a modern classic behind Sykes as the laps ticked down; Sykes held firm in the face of incredible pressure from the two red machines - but as they crossed the line almost together, last-corner drama ensued for those behind, with Lowes trying to pass team-mate Canepa and sending them both off – although Canepa recovered and was able to finish.

Forés came home fourth, ahead of local hero Hayden in P5, Torres, Van der Mark - after an incredible comeback - Canepa, Anthony West on the Pedercini Kawasaki and Roman Ramos, also on a privateer Kawasaki.

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