WSB Misano Race 1: Biaggi wins thrilling race to extend championship lead
Max Biaggi secured a brilliant win in the opening WSB race of the day after an epic battle with Carlos Checa and his Davide Giugliano. The Factory Aprilia rider who’d only qualified in tenth place fought hard all race and after tough battles with Melandri and Checa on route to the front, he eventually took the lead from Giugliano on lap 22. Despite coming under pressure from Checa in the final two laps he held on to take the win to extend his championship lead to 30 points.
Biaggi said: “I’m very very happy. It was a hard race to go from tenth to first because there are not many place to overtake at this track. In the past this has been a Ducati track and they have dominated us, but not today – I am happy to be here.”
Carlos Checa was another man that made a brilliant recovery from his disastrous Superpole after going from 16th on the grid to second place.
“It’s a fantastic result for myself, Giugliano and the team. Before the race I would have thought it was impossible for myself and Max to be fighting for the win given our grid position, but the racing in WSB is unexpected!”
Davide Giugliano secured his second podium of his rookie year in WSB with a brilliant race long ride that saw him keep both Checa and Biaggi behind him in the closing laps.
Tom Sykes secured fourth place after making a strong start, dropping off the pace and then mounting an impressive fight back to pass Haslam, Melandri and Rea.
Jonathan Rea’s early dominance of the race ended when he lost grip dramatically from his rear tyre. Having led for 16 laps and enjoying a 1.8 second lead, the Honda Superbike rider eventually finished in fifth place over 11 seconds behind the winner.
Chaz Davies was the surprise package of the day having gone from 21st on the grid to sixth onboard his ParkinGO Aprilia. He beat Eugene Laverty who struggled with front grip issues and ended the race in seventh place.
Leon Camier claimed tenth place onboard his Fixi Crescent Suzuki with Leon Haslam in 12th after struggling dramatically with rear tyre problems. His BMW team-mate Marco Melandri was forced to pull into the pits with a similar tyre issue.
Misano Adriatico – FIM Superbike World Championship – Race 1
1. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 38’58.471
2. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 38’58.776
3. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 39’02.974
4. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 39’07.329
5. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 39’10.098
6. Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 39’10.729
7. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 39’11.022
8. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 39’12.032
9. Jakub Smrz (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert) Ducati 1098R 39’15.485
10. Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 39’16.832
11. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 39’18.500
12. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 39’20.553
13. Maxime Berger (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 39’21.437
14. Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 39’25.485
15. Matteo Baiocco (Barni Racing Team Italia) Ducati 1098R 39’29.604
16. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 39’30.190
17. John Hopkins (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 39’30.373
18. Niccolò Canepa (Red Devils Roma) Ducati 1098R 39’42.241
19. Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 39’53.542
20. Federico Sandi (Grillini Progea Superbike Team) BMW S1000 RR 39’04.464
RT. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 34’29.084
RT. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 21’15.803
RT. David Salom (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 26’56.581
RT. Lorenzo Zanetti (PATA Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 9’54.565
