The 2013 World Superbike Championship took over Monza this weekend for round four of 15 in the series. BMW's Marco Melandri went 1-2 at his home track.
Kawasaki Racing’s Tom Sykes was on a tear once again at this year’s round, taking superpole Saturday. It was the Brit’s third Superpole this season and 14th of his World SBK career. Sykes didn’t score any wins Sunday, though he finished on the podium in both races, as did BMW Motorrad GoldBet’s Melandri and Aprilia Racing Team’s Eugene Laverty.
In race one, Melandri took the win in a nail-biter, joined on the podium by Sykes and Laverty. In race two, Laverty took the win ahead of Melandri and Sykes. Missing from Sunday’s grid was Ducati Alstare’s Carlos Checa, who was misssed the races due to shoulder issues, and Pata Honda World Superbike’s Leon Haslam, who broke his leg during practice a assen two weeks ago.
Monza World Superbike Race 1 Recap:
When Monza World Superbike got underway Friday with the first timed session, Melandri was the rider to beat. Melandri piloted his BMW S1000RR to the quickest time Friday, and also during the second timed qualifying session Saturday. But he had technical problems during Superpole. Melandri would be forced into the pits, but manage a fifth-place start on the grid, finishing Superpole just over six tenths of a second behind the pole sitter, Sykes.
Melandri redeemed himself with a spectacular last-lap performance at Monza. Melandri entered the final of 18 laps in third position, and overtook Sykes at the first of 13 turns. A few corners later Melandri made a pass on the leader, Laverty, but the Northern Irishman retaliated, taking back the front position at the “Ascari” chicane.
But the excitement occurred on the final turn when Melandri got alongside Laverty, with Sykes not far behind. The three riders crossed the finish line side-by-side, with Melandri finishing by a mere 0.085 of a second ahead of Laverty, and 0.107 ahead of Sykes. The win was Melandri’s 11th of his career, and his maiden at his home track of Monza.
Taking fourth was the man leading the points battle, Aprilia Racing Team’s Sylvain Guintoli. After race one, Guintoli had 21 points on Sykes, and 25 on Laverty.
Fifth went to BMW Motorrad GoldBet’s Chaz Davies, who finished ahead of Red Devils Roma Aprilia’s Michel Fabrizio and Kawasaki Racing’s Loris Baz.
Race 1 also saw a new average speed record for World Superbike – 125.410 mph (201,814 kmh). The previous record was set in 2000 at Hockenheim: Race 1 – 125.100 mph (201,330 kmh).
2013 Monza World Superbike Race 2 Recap:
The seiond race was equally close, with Laverty edging Melandri and Sykes. Chaz Davies failed to finish.
With his 4-4 finishes at Monza, Guintoli retains the World SBK points lead with 137, 13 ahead of Laverty. Sykes is in third with 119, and Melandri fourth with 96 and Davies in fifth with 94.
The 2013 World Superbike Championship now breaks for two weeks before resuming at Donington Park in the UK for round five of 15. –– Paul Duchene
2013 Monza World Superbike Race 1 Results:
1. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 30’54.925
2. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 30’55.010
3. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 30’55.032
4. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 30’56.769
5. Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 31’02.554
6. Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 31’03.332
7. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 31’10.480
8. Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 31’11.390
9. Leon Camier (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 31’11.593
10. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 31’21.745
11. Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 31’33.833
12. Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 31’33.876
13. Fabrizio Lai (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 31’47.713
14. Kosuke Akiyoshi (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 31’50.814
15. Federico Sandi (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 31’50.931
16. Mark Aitchison (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 31’51.752
17. Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 31’54.470
RT. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Grillini Dentalmatic SBK) BMW S1000 RR 14’33.976
2013 Monza World Superbike Race 2 Results:
1. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 30’59.653
2. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 30’59.796
3. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 31’00.378
4. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 31’01.272
5. Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 31’09.618
6. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 31’09.719
7. Leon Camier (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 31’11.894
8. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 31’29.424
9. Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 31’34.658
10. Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 31’41.410
11. Fabrizio Lai (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 31’52.232
12. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Grillini Dentalmatic SBK) BMW S1000 RR 32’28.425
13. Federico Sandi (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 31’06.572
RT. Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 19’01.771
RT. Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 11’20.596
RT. Kosuke Akiyoshi (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 7’06.643
RT. Mark Aitchison (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 5’31.798
RT. Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1’47.465
