Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/346427
WORLD SUPERBKE WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 9/JULY 13, 2014 MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA/MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA P50 Front row qualifier Chaz Davies got a close-up look at the dust in an unwelcome fashion with his own fall from his factory Ducati in race one, on lap two, and his subsequent medical examination saw him ruled out of race two as he had taken too severe a knock. He disagreed, but the medics won out. His teammate took over the reins and thus Giugliano was fourth, 13 seconds from Me- landri, and only a few tenths ahead of the rapidly arriving Toni Elias on the Red Devils Roma Aprilia. Rea was sixth after qualifying 10th but he would get a bolt of podium lighting in his first visit to California for the day job. Third in race two was a great ride and unlike most others he had never been to Laguna – the tricky, bumpy, blind crested Laguna - ever before. A good day for Elias, with two fifths showing what can be done out- side of the factory oper- ated world if your base bike is good enough. In the Evo class there were some weird results because of all the falls, primarily. All 27 riders who had qualified rode in race one but only 23 lined up for the last part of race two, and only 17 finished. In the Evo class-within-a class category David Salom and his Kawasaki was a double winner again and he heads off for sur- gery on his troublesome right hand and wrist immediately after the forthcoming tests at Porti- mao, July 21- 22. You can make that kind of decision when you have a 37-point lead over your nearest rivals and two months with no race to participate in. In the full World Superbike class it is Sykes who is looking to really relax after Portimao test- ing, especially after putting more clean air between him and sec- ond place chaser Guintoli this weekend. In lifting his advantage over Guintoli to 44, one more than when he started, Sykes is mov- ing on inexorably. Four rounds left, plenty of time, but if his rivals could not really punish his points at Laguna, they may find it even harder at Jerez, Magny Cours, the unknown of Phakisa or the unconfirmed Qatar. Sykes is making a great es- cape in the series, aided and abetted by some rivals and team- mates alike this weekend, but as said, it's not over yet. It will be soon, however, just as long as Sykes keeps getting one over on them. CN RACE ONE 1. Marco Melandri (Aprilia) 2. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) 3. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 4. Davide Giugliano (Ducati) 5. Toni Elias (Aprilia) 6. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 7. Leon Haslam (Honda) 8. Alex Lowes (Suzuki) 9. Loris Baz (Kawasaki) 10. David Salom (Kawasaki) RACE TWO 1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 2. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) 3. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 4. Eugene Laverty (Suzuki) 5. Toni Elias (Aprilia) 6. Loris Baz (Kawasaki) 7. Leon Haslam (Honda) 8. David Salom (Kawasaki) 9. Alessandro Andreozzi (Kawasaki) 10. Leon Camier (MV Agusta) Tom Sykes heads into the summer break with a 44-point lead in the World Superbike Championship.