Both World Superbike races at Nurburgring were red-flagged during the final laps, owing to crashes and oil on the track, Byron Wilson of Motorcycleusa.com reports. Kawasaki Racing’s Tom Sykes took the checker in Race 1 after the finishing order reverted back to the last completed lap, and in Race 2 it was BMW Motorrad GoldBet’s Chaz Davies on the top step. A few riders, such as Pata Honda’s Jonathan Rea and FIXI Crescent Suzuki’s Leon Camier, weren’t as fortunate, with Rea suffering a broken left femur and Camier being sent to the hospital for observation of potential neck injuries as a result of their crashes in Race 1.
Race 1
Sykes held the top-spot in Race 1 ahead of Davies’ teammate, Marco Melandri, in second. Davies rounded out the podium.
Sykes ran to the front off the start and held there the entire race, though on the red-flagged 18th lap Melandri made a successful pass into the lead. Finishing order reverted back to the 17th lap, however, and Sykes ended with the advantage. Melandri and Davies were also quick to the front, with the Italian settling into second during the initial laps and Davies following close behind in third. Davies made a move on his teammate late in the race but Melandri was able to answer back and hold steady until the finish.
Early in the race Aprilia Racing’s Eugene Laverty crashed, but was able to return to competition after a brief pit stop. The Irish rider finished in 15th. Sykes’ teammate, Loris Baz, was unable to compete at all following his crash in the warmup.
The red-flag was prompted after Team Pedercini rider Federico Sandi’s engine malfunctioned, leaving oil on the track in Turn 9. Rea and Camier both crashed in the section due to the slick surface.
Aprilia Racing’s Sylvain Guintoli came across the line in fourth-place followed by Althea Racing’s Davide Giugliano in fifth and Red Devils Roma’s Michel Fabrizio in sixth. Rea’s teammate, Leon Haslam, ended in seventh followed by Camier’s teammate, Jules Cluzel, in eighth.
World Superbike Nurburgring Race 1 Results 2013:
1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki)
2. Marco Melandri (BMW)
3. Chaz Davies (BMW)
4. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia)
5. Davide Giugliano (Aprilia)
6. Michel Fabrizio (Aprilia)
7. Leon Haslam (Honda)
8. Jules Cluzel (Suzuki)
9. Ayrton Badovini (Ducati)
10. Carlos Checa (Ducati)
11. Mark Aitchison (Kawasaki)
12. Matej Smrz (Yamaha)
13. Markus Reiterberger (BMW)
14. Vittorio Iannuzzo (BMW)
15. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia)
Race 2
Davies notched his third race win of the season in Race 2 ahead of Laverty in second and Melandri in third.
Melandri got a quick start and ran to the front during the opening lap, followed by Sykes in second and Davies in third. Sykes dropped off pace slightly as Davies pushed ahead into the runner-up spot and soon after Laverty moved ahead of the Kawasaki rider as well.
The BMWs swapped position out front a number of times throughout the contest while Laverty waited patiently for a passing opportunity. The Aprilia ace struggled to brake as late as Melandri and Davies and saw a number of opportunities to move up the ranks come up short as a result. Laverty finally found a line to second-place during the final laps and he was able to play a successful defense against Melandri to the checker.
Sykes ended the race in fourth ahead of Guintoli in fifth. The two riders remained close to the leaders throughout the competition, but were unable to mount a charge for a podium result. Giugliano trailed in sixth.
Pole-sitter Ayrton Badovini of Team Ducati Alstare finished seventh ahead of Fabrizio in eighth and MR-Racing’s Max Neukirchner in ninth. Badovini’s teammate, Carlos Checa, rounded out the top 10.
Sykes moves back to the top spot in the championship standings, just one point ahead of former leader Guintoli. Melandri made up ground on both riders and sits 30 points adrift of the leader in third overall. Laverty is an additional 10 points back in fourth followed by Davies in fifth.
World Superbike Nurburgring Race 2 Results 2013:
1. Chaz Davies (BMW)
2. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia)
3. Marco Melandri (BMW)
4. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki)
5. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia)
6. Davide Giugliano (Aprilia)
7. Ayrton Badovini (Ducati)
8. Michel Fabrizio (Aprilia)
9. Max Neukirchner (Ducati)
10. Carlos Checa (Ducati)
11. Mark Aitchiston (Kawasaki)
12. Markus Reiterberger (BMW)
13. Leon Haslam (Honda)
14. Jules Cluzel (Suzuki)
15. Vittorio Iannuzzo (BMW)
World Superbike Championship Points 2013:
1. Tom Sykes, 287
2. Sylvain Guintoli, 286
3. Marco Melandri, 257
4. Eugene Laverty, 247
5. Chaz Davies, 221
6. Loris Baz, 180
7. Jonathan Rea, 176
8. Michel Fabrizio, 156
9. Jules Cluzel, 123
10. Davide Giugliano, 121
