The seventh round of the World Superbike Championship, the mid-season event, took place on 10 June at the Misano circuit, Italy. Fittingly, Infront Motor Sport, promoter of the championship for the FIM, paid homage to the victims of the earthquake in the region of Emilia Romagna, not far from the circuit. An auction of items offered by the teams and riders will take place in July to help the disaster victims.
The two races took place in good conditions and saw the crushing domination of Max Biaggi who, although 40 years old, still rides supreme! The teams supported by Motul, ParkinGO and Liberty Racing, did well for themselves. In race one, Chaz Davies surprised everyone by managing to battle forward to 6th place after leaving from 21st position on the starting grid. So the British rider could be heard to say: 'I took great pleasure! Yesterday evening the team changed a few settings at the front and I was more at ease.' The following day he once again battled forward a few places after the start but fell nine laps from the arrival.
In team Liberty Racing, Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli had an awkward start but gained ground and crossed the arrival line 8th, just ahead of his team-mate Jakub Smrz. Maxime Berger finished 13th. In race two, Guintoli pulled off a better start but fell following a collision with Melandri, allowing Smrz and Berger to clinch 9th and 11th places.
In the Championship, Guintoli and Smrz keep their position but Chaz Davies has progressed since the last two events, passing from 19th to 14th place.
The next meet is scheduled on 1 July at the Aragon circuit, Spain.
Superbike Standings
01// Max Biaggi - Aprilia - 210,5 pts
02// Jonathan Rea - Honda - 172 pts
03// Tom Sykes - Kawasaki - 164,5 pts
07// Sylvain Guintoli - Ducati - 103 pts - Motul
10// Jakub Smrz - Ducati - 75,5 pts - Motul
14// Chaz Davies - Aprilia - 49 pts - Motul
15// Maxime Berger - Ducati - 38,5 pts - Motul
Photo Credits : Stan Perec
