WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
WORLD SUPERBIKE
BY GORDON RITCHIE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
I
n the first-ever visit of World
Superbike racing to Sepang
in Malaysia there were no end
of reasons to be happy that the
party bus stopped off at the 3.43-
mile circuit near Kuala Lumpur.
The first reason was two crack-
ing races between works Aprilia
teammates Marco Melandri and
Sylvain Guintoli.
The second was a far less
fraternal incident involving the
official Kawasaki Racing team-
mates Loris Baz and Tom Sykes,
the later being the championship
leader still. But only just.
There was also another podi-
um booty call for the sometimes
troubled and sometimes brilliant
Suzuki squad, and then another
surprise podium finisher behind
the rampant lead RSV-4 Factory
riders in the shape of Sykes, a
man who had to have a close
ROUND 6/JUNE 8, 2014
SEPANG INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT/SEPANG, MALAYSIA
P96
The Aprilias battle at the front while mayhem ensues behind them
Melandri Jumps Up
