World Superbikes race 1 at Nurburgring was run in dry and cool conditions and Tom Sykes was awarded the victory in a countback after a dramatic finale that caused the race to be red flagged on the penultimate lap, leaving Marco Melandri who had jsut taken the lead in second and team mate Chaz Davies completed the podium.
Ayrton Badovini had the pole position, but it was Tom Sykes who got the holeshot followed by Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies.
For almost the half race distance the three riders were separated by a few tenths as the rest of field lost contact, while Eugene Laverty who was rushing to try to catch the escaping group, crashed out.
The Aprilia rider was able to remount, but was forced to pit with a crooked front rim, he would rejoin.
but his race was over, but he was able to pick up a single point.
Davies would take the second spot from Melandri, but the Italian would return the favour just a few laps later as the two would continue their chase after Sykes as Jonathan Rea joined the three frontrunners.
On the penultimate lap Melandri lined up the Kawasaki and passed him and Rea was trying to line up Davies when disaster struck.
Federico Sandi crashed out and his Kawasaki lost oil on the track, and Rea arriving in fourth gear and at 200km/h was caught out by the oily substance at turn 10 and arrived like a missile against the barriers, and just moments later, Leon Camier was caught out.
He smashed into the barriers like a bomb, with his Suzuki flying over the barriers.
Rea has fractured his left femur.
Camier has neck injury (the Suzuki rider is awake and moving) that has to be further investigated.
The red flag came out halting the race and the results were based on the countback giving Skyes the victory, his 11th of his Superbike career and he is now only one point from Sylvain Guintoli who couldn’t do better than fifth (fourth with the countback) and was never in contention for a podium finish.
Loris Baz was unable to take part in race 1 following his huge crash in this morning’s warm-up.
The Kawasaki rider was shipped off the local hospital for further x-rays on his back.
2013 WSBK Nurburgring Race 1 Results:1.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 32’38.
1842.
Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 32’38.
4533.
Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 32’38.
8984.
Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 32’44.
6115.
Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 32’46.
7106.
Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 32’51.
4187.
Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 32’52.
0028.
Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 32’56.
9109.
Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale 32’59.
23310.
Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale 33’00.
95811.
Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 33’11.
46812.
Matej Smrz (Yamaha Motor Deutschland) Yamaha YZF R1 33’26.
51313.
Markus Reiterberger (Vanzon-Remeha-BMW) BMW S1000 RR 33’26.
81114.
Vittorio Iannuzzo (Grillini Dentalmatic SBK) BMW S1000 RR 34’10.
71415.
Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 32’59.
271RT.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 32’39.
160RT.
Leon Camier (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 32’44.
861RT.
Federico Sandi (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 33’18.
214RT.
Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing) Ducati 1199 Panigale 25’41.
089
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