FIM World Superbike round 7: Italy (Misano Adriatico)

I had forgotten to post highlights of the sixth round of the FIM World Superbike Championship at the Misano Adriatico track in Italy three weeks ago, back on June 10th.  Round seven is taking place this weekend in Aragon, Spain.  Those races WILL be fully updated in due course.  Apologies for not noticing.

In race one at Misano, Johnny Rea looks to get the jump over the rest of the field going into the first corner.  A battle ensues between Carlos Checa and one of the other riders.  If this were the TV broadcast and not the highlight video on YouTube, it would be easier to tell who is on some of these other bikes.  I will identify who I can here as the race wears on in highlight form.  Tom Sykes is coming through the field and there is also an intense battle ensuing between Davide Giugliano and Johnny Rea.  Actually, that is a different bike.  Thought it was the #65 Honda at first.

Checa battles the BMW of Marco Melandri getting the better of him into one of the tighter corners.  At Misano, those would be either turn four (Rio), turn eight (Quercia), or turn ten (Tramanto).  Into the wide sweeper at Curvone, the bikes go three wide!  It's Rea, Checa, and Davide Giugliano who appears to have the lead at this point.  Max Biaggi passes Checa.  Johnny Rea also has a look down the inside.  It's Giugliano vs. Biaggi in the closing stages of race one.  Biaggi ultimate gets the best of Giugliano in race one, winning it.

#3 Max Biaggi      ITA     Aprilia RSV4 Factory

Race two is on deck.

At the start, Tom Sykes gets the hole shot off the line.  It's a land rush into the first corner.  Sykes leads and it looks like Johnny Rea and the BMW's of Marco Melandri or their three other riders (Leon Haslam, Ayrton Badovini, and Michele Fabrizio), are in contention early.  Giugliano passes Johnny Rea.  The big moment here was when Carlos Checa (for the second consecutive race) dumps his bike and is out of it!  A momentary lapse in concentration sent him reeling.

Max Biaggi gets around Tom Sykes.  Then, Davide Giugliano loses it into a corner.  He's a retirement as is Carlos Checa.  Sykes and Rea now duke it out.  It's Honda vs. Kawasaki.  Another rider loses his bike.  It looks to be Chaz Davies on another of the factory supported Aprilia RSV's.  All this doesn't bother Max Biaggi though.  He cruises on to do the double at Misano Adriatico!

#3 Max Biaggi     ITA      Aprilia RSV4 Factory

The next race on the WSBK schedule is this weekends action in Spain at the Aragon circuit.  Stay tuned for that.