Aragon is a principality of Spain. This is race one. Race two will not be shown today. But, rather, it will be on Tuesday. So, look for the update on that race coming up in a few days.
The conditions are very cool and Johnny Rea has had issues with that throughout the weekend. This is the beginning of the second half of the season for the World Superbike Championship.
Carlos Checa is on the second row in seventh and this track has a corner named after him.
At the start, Max Biaggi gets the jump and then Tom Sykes gets the hole shot. Laurence Baz is back on track and another bike went down. Eugene Laverty, Davide Giugliano, Leon Haslam and others get good starts. Marco Melandri is going well but Jakub Smrz falls. Johnny Rea also crashes out. This race will be 20 laps. Eugene Laverty leads a race for the first time in a long time. Laverty is the one who has been shot from a cannon this time. Chaz Davies follows Carlos Checa.
Marco Melandri follows Max Biaggi. Checa tries passing Giugliano and makes it stick as the two Ducati's battle each other. Chaz Davies got loose into a corner. Max Biaggi passes Tom Sykes as Ayrton Badovini is now eighth and he sets the fast lap at a 1:58.9 second lap. It's an Aprilia 1-2. Ayrton Badovini is quickest bike on track right now and Leon Haslam might also be in this fight very soon. Marco Melandri tries passing Tom Sykes, but Melandri passed. He's third now. It's a battle between the Aprilia's. Biaggi gets the best of Laverty.
Eight laps are complete. Melandri slides around Eugene Laverty but then Laverty comes back. Tom Sykes is on the outside. Melandri goes by Laverty and Sykes goes with him. BMW vs. Aprilia vs. Kawasaki. Biaggi runs a 1:58.5 and these guys battling are going to have to catch up to the factory Aprilia. The Ducati seems to be down on power. Four laps complete. Another new lap record by Biaggi is a 1:58.4. Melandri equals it. Melandri stays with Biaggi running a 1:58.2. Ayrton Badovini is coming quickly in the lower half of the top ten.
Leon Haslam battles Lorenzo Zanetti for tenth. Michele Fabrizio and Niccollo Canepa are down further in the other. Marco Melandri is reeling in Max Biaggi now. John Hopkins begins to battle with Canepa and Fabrizio. Leon Camier also runs mid pack. It is interesting to observe both Biaggi and Melandri, because they both started their motorcycle careers in MotoGP on 250cc bikes and those skills translate to these big 1000cc machines in World Superbike. Bigger bike, same riding skills.
The race is half over. Ten laps to go. Biaggi and Melandri are still INCREDIBLY close. Tom Sykes passes Eugene Laverty and Ayrton Badovini is also moving up. Leon Haslam is falling back as Davide Giugliano and Michele Fabrizio have both passed. Leandro Mercado crashed. But, he's OK. Max Biaggi slides wide and now Marco Melandri is right on it. Marco Melandri passes Biaggi. Melandri was thinking, "OK, Biaggi is on the limit. So, if he makes a mistake, I can pounce." Melandri runs wide, Biaggi goes through.
Biaggi begins to gap Marco Melandri. The bikes tires should be OK to the end of the race. Biaggi's tires are beginning to wear down slightly. It's a two man race right now. Tom Sykes, Ayrton Badovini and Carlos Checa follow. Marco Melandri goes by Max Biaggi as he did a block pass. Can Biaggi do the same? Five laps remaining. Tom Sykes will get on the podium or so it appears. Biaggi still wants by Melandri.
There's a specific corner on the track where he has an advantage. Biaggi gets the advantage, slips and then allows Melandri to pass. Four laps left in the race now. These two are side by side at 200 miles an hour down the Aragon straight. Tom Sykes and Ayrton Badovini also have a battle royale going on for third. Leon Haslam has recovered. He's way behind Eugene Laverty but will still get a good finish. Melandri's late braking seems to be an advantage. But, he slides wide.
Melandri is now blocking Biaggi. So, Biaggi has to go on the offensive. Two laps to go now. Biaggi passes and then, Melnadri tries but can;t quite get there. Now Biaggi has the advantage and Melandri slides. He stays in it but loses time. Melandri has nothing to lose. But Biaggi has to hold on or he loses the points lead. Ayrton Badovini and Tom Sykes have both crashed. Biaggi makes a mistake. Who will it be? Max Biaggi wins it! OK. It was Melandri making a mistake. Carlos Checa gets third.
#3 Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia RSV4 Factory
Race two will take place next and be seen on Tuesday. Look for the highlights then.
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