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Kawasaki's winning streak has been interrupted for the first time this season at Aragon. Just like last year, the Spanish track has proved kind to Chaz Davies and the Ducati. A significant win for the Ducati with regard to the championship, particularly in terms of how it was achieved. The victory is down to a combination of ingredients, Davies' sheer class but also the new components introduced by Ducati technicians for this Motorland round: “We've done a really great job – commented the Brit – taking an important step in terms of the engine, which has immediately brought the results we were hoping for. Now we need to continue on this path”. Neither Sykes, who started from pole, nor Rea, the championship leader, could do much about it. Rea, having got off the line fast, lost some ground before recovering from the mid-race point and getting the better of his team-mate.
As the lights went out the World Champion made a lightening start, taking an early lead and immediately trying to build a gap. His pace did nothing to deter Sylvain Guintoli, hot on his tail, however, or Tom Sykes and Chaz Davies come to that, and within a couple of laps it was Sykes who moved to the head of the pack, closely followed by the Yamaha and #7 Ducati.
On lap four Davies made his move, braking hard to get past Sykes who also went slightly long. From that point, after a brief battle between the two rivals, and with Rea fighting to pass Guintoli for third, Davies began to lap with an inimitable pace, setting a new fastest lap of 1’50”421, half a second quicker than last year's best time set by Sykes.
Lap eleven saw Rea, the only rider able to come close to Davies' times, pass his team-mate Sykes to move into second. The two Kawasaki men battled it out among themselves, but couldn't get near the race leader who continued to build on his advantage.
A positive race for Xavi Fores who closed fourth, passing Davide Giugliano in the final stages, the latter unable to keep pace with the leaders. Nicky Hayden followed in sixth, with Jordi Torres finishing seventh.
A less positive outcome for Guintolì who, after a great start, went backwards from second all the way down to ninth. Tenth place for Lorenzo Savadori on the Aprilia ahead of team-mate Alex De Angelis. Bad luck for Baiocco who retired on lap four. The same fate for Leon Camier who retired on lap ten while fighting with Lowes for a top ten spot.
