WSB: Sykes wins in Misano chaos

Tom Sykes took the most unlikely win of his WorldSBK career after sitting in fifth place for the most of the opening WorldSBK race of the Misano weekend.

First, long time leader Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) fell with what appeared to be an issue with the rear tyre as he came under pressure from Jonathan Rea for the first time since the early stages of the race. 

On the final lap, Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) fell from third place as he tried to keep in contention for the win, leaving Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) up front, with Rea just behind.

As Rea had lost time shortly beforehand, after a strong pass from Davies and then melandri, he was making up ground on the very last lap.

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Into the last felt corner, turn 14, Davies slid off and with Rea so close behind the Kawasaki rider could not avoid bike and rider and he too was knocked off.

Rea got restarted for third but Davies stood up, could not restart, and was taken away from medical attention at trackside after a hard impact in the accident.

Sykes came past to win his second race of the year, with Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) second – Rea third.

Behind the podium places Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) was fourth, Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Ducati) fifth and Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) sixth.

Randy Krummenacher (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was seventh, 22 seconds down, Roman Ramos (Team GOELEVEN Kawasaki) eight, Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) ninth and Raffaele De Rosa (Althea BMW Racing Team) tenth.

In the points, Rea leads with 276 to Sykes’ 230 with one more Misano race to go on Sunday.

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