FIM World Superbike has three supporting championships for their race weekends. Haven't covered these events yet. But, here is the first, of what might be, oh, two updates for the season as the second half has already gotten well underway.
Four races will be highlighted from Monza, in Italy as well as Donington Park in England, and Misano in Italy, before another update, later on in the year. The classes covered will be Super Sport, Superstock 1000 and Superstock 600.
At Monza, here's how things went.
In Supersport, pole went to bike #54, the Kawasaki of Kenan Sofuoglu in a wet race. It was so wet in fact that Sofuoglu fell down on the formation lap! Fortunately, he continued back to the starting grid. As the race gets underway, a battle hots up between bikes #11 of Brit Sam Lowes on a Honda CBR600 and #16 Jules Cluzel of France on an identical bike. Lowes and Cluzel are team mates and Lowes makes a successful pass. Lowes runs wide though through the Parabolica, allowing Cluzel to pass again.
Lowe's can't do anything, and Cluzel wins.
#16 Jules Cluzel FRA Honda CBR600 RR
Now, on to the Super Stock 1000 Cup. Sylvain Barrier of France on a BMW S1000RR has pole. Barrier has to deal with a dislocated shoulder after crashing in the practice session. The #32 Ducati 1199 Paginale for Lorenzo Savadori takes the race lead. The Italian rides for Barni Racing Team Italia, obviously. Italian rider, team, and bike. Savadori was followed in second by team mate and fellow Italian, Eddi La Mara. Barrier crashed, and La Mara had a slight slip up. Savadori wins the race.
#32 Lorenzo Savadori ITA Ducati 1199 Panigale
In Superstock 600, there was a wet race. It had been postponed the day before and rescheduled for Sunday. But the track was still REALLY wet. It would be just a six lap shootout. Gauthier Duwelz of Belgium is the early race leader. He got it after Ricardo Russo bogged down at the start. Swiss rider Sebastien Suchet crashes out on his #39 Honda CBR600 and eventually, Russo clawed his way back, to win.
#84 Ricardo Russo ITA Yamaha YZF R6
The next round at Donington Park in England, in Super Sport, saw Sam Lowes as the favorite. It's one of his home races. He is second to Kenan Sofuoglu who is on pole on the Kawasaki. The Turkish rider seems to be the man to beat in this class. The battle ensued during the race between these two riders with Lowes taking the advantage in the race's second half. Lowes won it with Sofuoglu second. Jules Cluzel had a fraught race.
#11 Sam Lowes GBR Honda CBR600 RR
The lower classes for FIM under Super Bike, did not race in the United States at Miller Motorsports Park as their American counterparts in the AMA provided the support events. So, the next race was Misano Adriatico in San Marino. The Super Sport race, after a month off from racing, there had been five different race winners, and the championship? Well, it is wide open. The three major names are on the front row of the grid. It's Lowe's, Cluzel, and Sofuoglu. Sofuoglu and Cluzel scrapped mightily during the race.
Sam Lowes had a dreadful race, languishing the back of the pack in 18th place, after dropping like a rock. Sofuoglu won the race with Cluzel second, and in third, a welcome podium for Triumph (who also races in America). Their rider in Super Sport is Italian Alex Baldolini on bike #25.
#54 Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Kawasaki ZX-6R
In Superstock 1000 at Misano, there was oil on the track before the start. But, when the race got underway, Ducati looked to have an early advantage with Eddi La Marra and Lorenzo Savadori. However, BMW was not going to just lay back and take things easy. Sylvain Barrier and team mate Lorenzo Baroni were on a charge. Despite his injuries, Barrier won the race. He also holds the lead in the championship after these races have been run.
#20 Sylvain Barrier FRA BMW S1000RR
Finally, in the Superstock 600 class race at Misano, Federico Morbidelli (a part time competitor) took the early race lead. Dutchman Michael van der Mark on another Honda took it over soon after. van der Mark won the race and Ricardo Russo kept his lead in the championship for the Superstock 600 class.
#60 Michael van der Mark NLD Honda CBR600RR
More racing in the support championships for World Superbike will come your way soon. Stay tuned for further details as the rest of the season unfolds.
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