VOL. 51 ISSUE 40 OCTOBER 7, 2014 P59
won big against Sykes, who
struggled against his usual wet
weather Kawasaki gremlins to
take two fourth places. His sec-
ond one was contested all the
way, as much as his first-race
promotion from fifth to fourth
had been a gift.
Sykes was clearly irritated.
"For the rain to come to-
day was a big kick in the teeth
and I am very surprised to fin-
ish inside the top four twice in
wet conditions because these
results are better than I expect-
ed," he said. "Unfortunately,
we have had some limitations
for some time in wet conditions
and we cannot just quite get to
where we need to be."
With Guintoli and Melandri
splitting the top two spots, the
final podium places both went
to Pata Honda, but it wasn't just
Jonathan Rea. Instead it was
Leon Haslam scoring his first
podium since 2012 (and his first
for his current team) in race two
– to the joy of almost everyone
in the paddock.
Running at constant pace
throughout race one, limited
by his engine and chassis set-
Briefly...
win on a Ducati in Magny-Cours, Lo-
renzo Lanzi. They were strong mid-
field runners from the start on their
more-than-Evo, less-than-full-World
Superbike machines. There has
been no decision yet if they will join
the series in 2015, but as a highly
competent and professional team,
with such experienced riders, they
would walk straight into the paddock.
After Ducati had made a regular test
at their favorite Mugello circuit they
arrived in Magny-Cours with a new
fuel tank design, with revised sup-
ports and bracketry, which allowed
a new design of split fuel tank, with
a rounder cover over the electronics
and monocoque airbox section.
Italian media sources indicated that an
11th-hour intervention by the Red Dev-
ils Roma squad may keep the Aprilia
marque in the paddock in 2015, with
an official squad featuring existing rid-
er Toni Elias. But there's no place for
Marco Melandri, who is most likely go-
ing to MotoGP with Aprilia.
The testing ban, which normally
runs from December 1 to January
15, is trying to be dropped by the top
teams given that they have a whole
French circuit that it has become the
place to see championships decided.
With a full Superstock card as well as
the omnipresent World Superbike and
World Supersport classes, it can be
multiple finale day - even if there is a
round or two left to run in any year.
With a whole series of upgrades
and a long contract extension coming
for Magny-Cours in the next few years,
it is a feel-good news story this season
after a series of letdowns and a drop
in global interest.
Even with a wet race
day to contend with,
some 74,500 people
showed up over the
three days.
Despite the bad
weather, the French
fans still made it out
to Magny-Cours.
continued on next page
