The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is the scene for the fourth round of the FIM World Superbike Championship. There has been a change. Due to inclement weather conditions there will be but one race taking place. Race one at Monza is cancelled. Race two is scheduled to be run, however. Here then, is the synopsis of the second race. There's a delay to make sure the track will stay dry. Clouds still hang over the track. Because of the canceled first race, only 25 points are on offer.
There was some racing in race one. Tom Sykes took the lead. Marco Melandri had a heavy wreck in Parabolica. Sylvain Guintoli took the lead and he and Tom Sykes battled each other. The rain came early. Max Biagi's bike stalled and he got help from Carlos Checa. There was a discussion about what would happen and then, the rain poured down.
For race two, it will be 17 laps with two pace laps. Most of the bikes are on slick tires. Hopes are the track will dry out. Guintoli has pole. There are wet spots offline. Riders cannot afford to run over them, risking dumping the motorcycle. The section of track known as the Lesmos will be tricky. Again, the Parabolica will also be a corner of question because of dampness. The bikes and riders take a second warmup lap, anticipating the race start.
Race distance will be 17 laps. Riders will need to be very cautious. Riders are putting their hands up. It's a no go. Some riders don't want to start. What's happening? Tom Sykes wants to race. They're going to delay the race! Riders are stunned as they talk to the officials. This is really odd. This is an old circuit with little runoff room. The mechanics are getting to the bikes. Marco Melandri has an issue with his bike. The crowd is disgruntled. Be patient. All the mechanics from all the teams are out on the grid. The race director is speaking to the riders.
Jakub Smrz, Leon Haslam and others are all NOT ready to race. Putting a hand up indicates, stop! Don't start the race. There's a debate. A division of thought on who wants to race and who doesn't. Make up your minds, guys. The one minute board is up. The riders will make their decision. It's dry on one side and wet on the other side of the track. The riders do another warm up lap. The crowd cheers seeing the warmup lap. Sylvain Guintoli (the only man wanting to race) has stalled! He has to rest the computer. There are other bikes that have issues. The conditions are improving. But what's going to happen. Michele Fabrizio is the other bike stalled. Guintoli and Fabrizio are out!
Race two finally starts! Tom Sykes will lead and Max Biaggi also gets a good start. Carlos Checa slots into second. The race will be 16 laps. Sykes is ahead into Curva de la Roggio. Marco Melandri passes Max Biaggi. Into the Ascari chicane, Sykes is pulling out his lead. Be very careful braking. Biaggi passes Melandri. Giuliano runs wide. Eugene Laverty follows behind Davide Giugliano. Eugene Laverty wants to pass Marco Melandri in Ascari. Johnny Ray passes Eugene Laverty and Carlos Checa. Max Biagi and Marco Melandri were passed instantly by Biagi. Leon Haslam is also in this. Jakub Smrz is in the middle of a nine bike chain.
Tom Sykes is checking out. Jakub Smrz is losing some ground. But Tom Sykes is setting down fast laps. Eugene Laverty is a second slower. Leon Haslam passes Max Biaggi. Only three laps have been run. Marco Melandri makes a move past Biaggi. Or maybe it was Leon Haslam. Eugene Laverty is indeed making his Aprilia work. Chaz Davis is behind Jakub Smrz. Leon Haslam wants by Eugene Laverty. Johnny Rea is also coming fast. He's sixth. Tom Sykes though, has this field covered. He wanted to race. Johnny Rea continues to battle with Biaggi.
Sykes remains the quickest bike on track as Biaggi and Ray battle into the Lesmos. Eugene Laverty runs quickly out of Ascari. Leon Haslam twitches and almost falls off the bike. Tom Sykes has a 7.6 second lead. His quick lap is a 1:44.8. Six laps are complete. Two laps to halfway. Tom Sykes has basically broken the lap record. It's Sykes followed by Haslam and Checa is third, barely. Water is on the track once more. It could be another rain shower. Marco Melandri continues chasing Checa. The race is over now. Riders threw two hands up telling the officials that the rain is too severe. Red flag. Game over. Tom Sykes wins at the halfway mark of this race.
#66 Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki ZX10R
Sykes is not happy about this race coming to a premature end. His team at Kawasaki don't seem to mind. Tom Sykes gets the points. It's his first race win of the year and the second of his Super Bike career. Leon Haslam for BMW is second. Half points will be awarded for the race. That seems fair. Sykes, Haslam and Laverty are the top three. Two Brits and an Irishman. Sykes also earns fastest lap. Biagi still leads the series championship with half points.
Next race: Donington Park, England, next weekend.
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