WSB: Melandri takes first win since 2014
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) recorded his first win of the 2017 season on Sunday to restore his damaged pride and save Ducati’s home weekend after all Saturday’s problems. This was his 20th career WorldSBK race, after winning previously on Yamaha, BMW and Aprilia machines.
Behind, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) moved up from fourth with seven laps to go, and was finally promoted to second, with his team-mate Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) third.
Starting from pole, under the 2017 race two grid rules, long time leader Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) was on for a definite podium at least until his bike quit on him with a couple of laps to run. Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Ducati) also failed to finish after leading the early laps.
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Fourth was Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), fifth Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) and sixth Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia).
Raffaele De Rosa (Althea BMW Racing Team) placed seventh, Randy Krummenacher (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) eighth.
The top ten, in a race badly affected by non-finishes, was rounded out by Leandro Mercado (IodaRacing Team Aprilia) and Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team).
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was ruled out of the race after his first race vertebra injuries.
Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) fell and no scored in a race where only 12 riders of the 20 starters made the finish.
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