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A turning point that has a resounding impact on the fight for the championship title. Until Laguna Seca, all signs pointed to Jonathan Rea making a final sprint to reconfirm his world title, but it only took two races to call everything into question. After the DNF in Race 2 at Laguna Seca, Rea finished with another "0" and for Tom Sykes, second here behind an uncatchable Chaz Davies, that title that seemed to be little more than a mirage, is once again tangible, with 45 points recovered and a gap in the overall standings that drops to just 26.
It was a race that did not start with the best of hopes for Rea, struggling throughout the weekend and hoping to at least limit the damage on a track that his Ninja does not seem to like. Everything went up in smoke on turn 8 with a gearbox that betrayed him in the braking section and the bike ending up in the gravel.
It was all smiles for Sykes who, with this second place finish, once again has raised hopes and it was smiles for Chaz Davies too. For the championship it might be late, but this win does much for morale in this last part of the season. It is a win that has been missing since Imola. Since then there have been unlucky races spotted with crashes that compromised the Ducati rider’s race for the title which (in light of Rea’s results) he could have had more of a chance of winning.
Yet another satisfying day for Nicky Hayden who finishes on the podium once again with his
CBR, giving the four-cylinder from Tokyo the last remnants of glory before retirement, as we await the new bike.
Glory that slipped away from Lorenzo Savadori’s Aprilia. The rider from Cesena, fast after a good start and third with Rea’s crash, unfortunately ended his race in the gravel; a race that could have been the summary of a season that has been positive thus far, with a podium that was well within reach for the former Superstock1000 champion.
The race ends with Jordi Torres’ fourth place, finishing ahead of Leon Camier with an excellent fifth place astride his MV, and Michael VD Mark. Davide Giugliano wrestled with the setup on his Panigale and finished seventh. Eighth place went to Alex Lowes ahead of teammate Sylvain Guintoli and Xavi Fores rounded out the top ten.
The top end of the overall standings now read like this: Rea 368 points, Sykes 342, Davies 285.
THE RACE - Chaz Davies got off the line well from pole position when the lights went out, with Sykes on his pipes straight away. Johnny Rea also started will, but was unable to keep pace with the leading duo (especially with Davies) and he fell into line in third position after the first lap. Savadori was right behind him straight away after gaining the upper hand on Davide Giugliano, wrestling with the setup on his Panigale that struggled quite a bit (and it was not the only one) with the bumps on the Eurospeedway.
After the initial laps, the race seemed to have a foregone result. Davies in the lead with unattainable lap times for the others. The Welshman was lapping at 1.37"540, more than half a second faster than everyone else.
The seventh lap held a resounding turning point in store for the championship, with Jonathan Rea falling on turn 8 astride a bike that seemed to have a gearbox problem in the braking section. His race was over and the championship was thrown wide open once again. Rea left his provisional third place to Lorenzo Savadori, but for the Aprilia-riding rookie the race would end a few corners after Rea’s exit: a crash for him as well, and a possible podium slipped through his fingers. A pity.
This left third place to Nicky Hayden, with Jordi Torres who, lapping with the same times as Davies in the lead, chases down the American rider.
At mid-race Chaz Davies’ pace slowed a bit - in any case, still under 38" - with Sykes at a gap of 8 seconds and with Hayden, third, trying to fend off the return of Jordi Torres who had come back, the only rider behind Davies who managed to put in a few laps under 1.38". A positive Leon Camier was in fifth place, seemingly unperturbed by the bumpy asphalt and making his MV fly around the track, overtaking VD Mark to chase down Torres.
On the last lap, with the order unchanged, Davies crossed the wire 10 seconds ahead of the second place finisher, Tom Sykes who, in any case, has plenty to smile about. His teammate’s DNF reopens the race for the title. Third place went to an excellent Hayden who, after Laguna Seca, is once again on the podium with his CBR.
