ROAD RACE
FIM SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 1 / FEBRUARY 23-25, 2018
PHILLIP ISLAND CIRCUIT / PHILLIP ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
P68
T
he latest WorldSBK technical rules may not have had an exhaus-
tive examination at such a unique and peculiar circuit as Phillip
Island but for a first go with the new reduced rev rules for all,
particularly for Kawasaki, they appeared to have an effect.
Being able to keep the same gearing on his factory Aruba.it Rac-
ing Ducati as last year meant a lot for Marco Melandri, as he had more
corner exit push onto the back straight, and also some more top end
than defending champion Jonathan Rea. They made a very small but
significant difference in the race that delivered Marco Melandri his first
NEW WORLD DOUBLE
FOR
MARCO MELANDRI DOUBLES UP IN AUSTRALIA
Ducati
BY GORDON RITCHIE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
