It is wet at the Sachsenring for the Moto 3 race. The wind has really picked up and the start has been delayed. The turn twelve grandstand at the Sachsenring is completely obscured. There are discussions about these bad conditions. MotoGP and Moto 2 have been completed. But, will the Moto 3 event run as planned? Yes. It will. Sandro Cortesi starts from pole. Luigi Morciano is starting from pit lane because he's exceeded his allocation of usable engines for the season already.
The bikes are on their formation lap. The race is late, but will get underway. Danny Kent is also up on the front row. Maverick Vinales starts down the order. The race will be 27 laps. But, Hector Faubel stalls his bike. At the start, Jack Miller flies off the starting blocks but Danny Kent will take the lead. Adrian Martin will lead this race with others coming. Louis Rossi, Danny Kent and others file through the first few corners as the bikes come through to the Stemquell. No one is sure of the grip levels in the wet. Tony Finsterbusch and Jakub Kornfeil are moving up.
Jonas Folger, Luis Salom and Brad Binder are up at the sharp end. Adrian Martin is in the race lead as the bikes go through turn eleven and twelve as Jack Miller goes for the lead and makes it work. The bikes go through the Sachsen curve and the Queckenberg curve. Maverick Vinales turns into the first corner (the Coca Cola curve). Sandro Cortese is also moving up well. The rain has now stopped and there are blue skies beginning to appear. There might be a dry racing line starting to form, too. Brad Binder is quickest at a 1:43.4 lap time.
Zhulfammi Khairuddin is moving up having passed Sandro Cortese. Maverick Vinales continues to languish. He's passed Marcel Schrotter. It could be Schrotter's last race at least temporarily as his Mahindra bike isn't performing. Khairuddin passes Jakub Kornfeil for seventh place. Hector Faubel sets fast lap at a 1:42.7. Louis Rossi is closing up on Jack Miller. With 20 laps left, Miller slides into corner number one (the Coca Cola curve). Maverick Vinales has to go quicker. Alex Rins is ahead of Vinales. Danny Webb, Simon Grotzkyj and others are hounding Vinales and Rins.
Brad Binder passed Adrian Martin. Luis Salom runs wide into turn one allowing Binder and Martin to pass. The track continues to dry as Schrotter wants to pass Vinales. Vinales is making sure he can stay in the race but is running slower. Danny Kent is coming. Alexis Masbou resets fast lap at 1:41.2. Brad Binder is quick right now. Alexis Masbou is running fast as he's three seconds quicker than Louis Rossi and is six seconds behind the leaders. Masbou is on intermediate tires, not full wets. The track is really beginning to dry now. Masbou sets another fast lap time. Jack Miller remains in the lead.
Romano Fenati is passed. He won in Spain, but has not had a good season since. Alexis Masbou passes Sandro Cortese. The race isn't even half over yet. Alan Techer passes Maverick Vinales. The track still has puddles and the pavement is steaming in turn nine. It's a battle between Jack Miller and Louis Rossi. Masbou is two seconds quicker than the leaders. Luis Salom is side by side with Jack Miller. Salom will take the lead. Can he win this race?
Twelve laps remain. Louis Rossi slides wide and Alexis Masbou goes by. Danny Kent has retired his KTM. There could be a radiator issue. Masbou can push, but he cannot wear down his tires. Sandro Cortese rides into third. He's a German, but keep in mind, his name sounds Italian. Hector Faubel has come into the points, running just ahead of Arthur Sissis. Cortese takes the lead in front of his home crowd. Can he win? Masbou runs ride and there's a backmarker in the way, Giulian Pedone of Switzerland. Jonas Folger seems to be coming into the picture.
The track is drying, but riders need to find water to keep the tires cool. Ten laps left. Adrian Martin tries passing Luis Salom, but no. ...And Jonas Folger crashes. He's got no luck and will be out of this race. Salom and Martin scrap for the lead. Cortese fends off the challenge from Masbou. No German has won a race at the Sachsenring since MotoGP came back to the Sachsenring back in 1998. Efrin Vazquez is running well. Luis Salom could be making a charge at the end. Continue looking for water with the wet weather tires still on the bike.
Alexis Masbou has taken the lead from Cortese with just six laps remaining. The Sachsenring is very abrasive and that could cause these tires to fade fast. Brad Binder or one of the other riders is slowing, allowing Maverick Vinales to come into the points. Masbou remains in the race lead. Masbou and Salom have not won races yet in their careers. So, there could be a first time winner at the end of this one. Masbou wants it bad. He's run 95 125cc races and has run eight races in Moto 3. Danny Kent is out of the race.
Cortese wants to win, but, Louis Rossi and Jack Miller might have something to say. Zhulfami Khairuddin is seventh and has five bikes trying to swamp him for position. Sandro Cortese retakes the lead. Three laps left. Jack Miller sets fast lap of the race. This could be a five way battle for the win after all. Hmmm. Maverick Vinales will score one point in this race. He's 15th now. Jack Miller sets fast lap at 1:37.718. Spaniard Alberto Moncayo stops his bike on the front straight with mechanical issues. Luis Salom battles Sandro Cortese as well as Alexis Masbou.
Marcel Schrotter has dumped his bike and is out. Two laps remain. Louis Rossi does likewise, crashing out. It's Cortese vs. Masbou. Cortese runs the fastest lap of the race. Jack Miller closes up, too. Maverick Vinales is back in the points, passing another rider. Sandro Cortese is going to win this race! He blocks the line and will be the first German to win at the Sachsenring in 1998 and also takes the Moto 3 points lead!
#11 Sandro Cortese GER KTM
The next round of the Moto 3 championship is the halfway mark in the season. It's going to be the Italian Grand Prix at the Mugello circuit, next weekend.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Moto 2: Germany
In Moto 2 at the Sachsenring (watching the final laps now), the battle was on between Brad Smith and Andrea Ianonne as well as Simone Corsi and Pol Espargaro. Scott Redding was the big loser in the race, crashing out early without even completing a lap. Andrea Ianonne will not score points in this race. Axel Pons had his bike rebuilt before the race started and has steering issues going into the final stages. With ten laps left, Marques was building a gap over Alex de Angelis. Mika Kallio was also up at the sharp end, but towards the end of the event, the lap times started to drop. Yuki Takahashi retired from the race after being in the points for most of the race. A lot of riders wanted to see rain in this race. But, it will not appear.
When the race started, Marques gapped everyone including Pol Espargaro and others. Redding crashed on lap one. Right now there's just eight laps left to run. Marques leads over Alex De Angelis, Mika Kalio, Pol Espargaro and Tom Luthi with seven laps left. Alex de Angelis, Mika Kalio and others are running in the 1:25.8 time range coming over the hill to the front side of the track. This track has a few named corners, but not many. Alex de Angelis could be having some issues that are slowing him down. The tires won't keep heat in them properly.
Marc Marquez has basically led this whole race. He wants a spot in MotoGP next year and could be on his way to having some opportunity to make that happen. Mika Kallio is having a good race, but cannot challenge for the win. Pol Espargaro could get by Mika Kallio. Andrea Ianonne is no longer in contention. Ditto for Max Neukirchner, Gino Rea and others. Kallio passes de Angelis. Alex de Angelis and Mika Kalio might get podiums. Both of them ran in MotoGP but couldn't find success there, so, they moved back down to Moto 2. Andrea Ianonne did in fact crash out of this race.
Just one lap to go. These two battle (Kalio and De Angelis). Don't throw it away. Marc Marques has sewn up the win, basically. Pol Espargaro could be losing his tires as Tom Luthi is just 6/10 of a second behind. de Angelis tries to get by Kallio in turn nine. Can he get a run into the last corner in turn thirteen and fourteen. Marc Marquez wins! De Angelis gets third, Kallio, second. Espargaro and Luthi round out the top five.
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Suter
The next race for Moto 2 is the Italian Grand Prix at the Mugello circuit, next weekend.
When the race started, Marques gapped everyone including Pol Espargaro and others. Redding crashed on lap one. Right now there's just eight laps left to run. Marques leads over Alex De Angelis, Mika Kalio, Pol Espargaro and Tom Luthi with seven laps left. Alex de Angelis, Mika Kalio and others are running in the 1:25.8 time range coming over the hill to the front side of the track. This track has a few named corners, but not many. Alex de Angelis could be having some issues that are slowing him down. The tires won't keep heat in them properly.
Marc Marquez has basically led this whole race. He wants a spot in MotoGP next year and could be on his way to having some opportunity to make that happen. Mika Kallio is having a good race, but cannot challenge for the win. Pol Espargaro could get by Mika Kallio. Andrea Ianonne is no longer in contention. Ditto for Max Neukirchner, Gino Rea and others. Kallio passes de Angelis. Alex de Angelis and Mika Kalio might get podiums. Both of them ran in MotoGP but couldn't find success there, so, they moved back down to Moto 2. Andrea Ianonne did in fact crash out of this race.
Just one lap to go. These two battle (Kalio and De Angelis). Don't throw it away. Marc Marques has sewn up the win, basically. Pol Espargaro could be losing his tires as Tom Luthi is just 6/10 of a second behind. de Angelis tries to get by Kallio in turn nine. Can he get a run into the last corner in turn thirteen and fourteen. Marc Marquez wins! De Angelis gets third, Kallio, second. Espargaro and Luthi round out the top five.
#93 Marc Marquez ESP Suter
The next race for Moto 2 is the Italian Grand Prix at the Mugello circuit, next weekend.
MotoGP round 8: Germany
Round eight of the MotoGP World Championship is the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring in Hohenstein, Germany. The championship is dead even now. Can Jorge Lorenzo reclaim his points lead? This race at the Sachsenring is in Oberlungwitz, Germany. MotoGP CEO Carmelo Ezpeletta has made some announcements. Only four bikes can be run per team and there are new ideas about CRT bikes. The schedule is still being ironed out.
The qualifying session was wet. In fifteen seconds, there were four polesitters! Nicky Hayden set fast laps but he was only able to manage seventh. Casey Stoner has pole even though Stefan Bradl, Dani Pedrosa and Ben Spies were also up there. Spies starts in second. Alvaro Bautista was penalized for crashing out Jorge Lorenzo in Holland. Colin Edwards is also running well. Stoner has his fourth pole of the year. This is Stefan Bradl's home race. Michele Pirro and Franco Battaini are two other riders to watch. Battaini is the test rider for Ducati, filling in for the injured Karel Abraham.
The bikes are on their warmup lap right now. This track is short and counterclockwise. It's the shortest track on the schedule, with thirteen turns. Turn 11 (the waterfall) is one of the best corners on the track. 30 laps is the race distance. Let's go get it!
At the start, Ben Spies gets the jump, but Dani Pedrosa is into the lead with Stoner passing Spies. Stefan Bradl is up to fifth. Jorge Lorenzo also has a good start. Cal Crutchlow loses three places into the Coca Cola Curve as the bikes go into the turn 9, 10, 11 complex, going to the final corner (the Sachsen Curve), to complete lap one. Lorenzo wants by Spies but cannot get there. This is a long race.
Lorenzo is trying to pass Spies while Bradl battles Cal Crutchlow. Alvaro Bautista is up to fourteenth, as the bikes come towards turn seven, into Stemquell. Casey Stoner flies by Pedrosa for the lead. Barbera passes Bradl and there's a battle between Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow, too. Crutchlow holds off Bradl, chasing his team mate, Andrea Dovizioso. Jorge Lorenzo goes back through turn eight another time. Dani Pedrosa is a three-time winner at the Sachsenring. Dovizioso closes on Lorenzo.
Casey Stoner turns a 1:22.6 lap time which is slower than Pedrosa's record last year. Pedrosa ran 1:22.3 in Friday morning practice. Michele Pirro is out of the race. Stoner runs fast lap at 1:22.624. Can Pedrosa win this race? His last win was in the Japan round in 2011. Pedrosa sets fast lap and is a tenth up on Stoner on lap four. Alvaro Bautista has come to twelfth spot, knocking on the door of the top ten. Lorenzo passes Ben Spiesx. Bautista passes Randy de Puniet and is past all the CRT bikes.
Cal Crutchlow battles Andrea Dovizioso. Crutchlow continues battling his fractured ankle. Nicky Hayden wants to get by Stefan Bradl. He thought so through turn twelve but couldn't do it as there's a huge battl;e between Dovizioso and Spies. Dovizioso takes fourth spot away. Crutchlow is running Spies down too. Crutchlow (in a bold move) passes Spies. Jorge Lorenzo is no quicker than the two leaders by a tenth (1:23 flat to 1:23.1). Jorge Lorenzo has not won at the Sachsenring yet.
Some dark clouds are gathering. There might be some rain. But, it's not certain yet. Crutchlow wants to pass Dovizioso. But, can he do it? For next year, Crutchlow might land on a factory Ducati while Andrea Dovizioso is looking to go to the factory Yamaha squad. The two riders are running for the Tech 3 Yamaha satellite team right now. Seventeen laps left in the race. Spies is dropping off the pace of the two Tech 3 Yamaha's. Dovizioso can run into the turns better. Dani Pedrosa sets fast lap. Not sure of the time, though.
Stoner is pushing Pedrosa, just like the Crutchlow/Dovizioso scrap. The race is now half over. Fifteen laps down. Fifteen to go as the bikes come through turn seven again, (the Stemquell). In the downhill section, Pedrosa is nearly right behind Stoner, but, he's going to have to make a move if he wants the lead. Stoner sets a 1:23.1. He may be slowing just a bit. Dani Pedrosa has now taken the lead. He can get more points since Lorenzo is out and Lorenzo is technically tied with Jorge Lorenzo for the points lead. Lorenzo is out of it.
Stoner is booking it with ten laps left. He just set his fastest lap. Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi pass Hector Barbera. Stoner is closing on Pedrosa. He's really getting off the corners well. Can Stoner drive around Pedrosa? Not this time. Three Yamaha's battle for fourth. It's Crutchlow, Dovizioso and Spies. Hauden, Barbera and Rossi scrap too, with Hector Faubel knocking on the door. Pedrosa is a tenth up on Stoner. The Ducati team was thinking about getting the spare bikes but changed their minds. Rain could come before the end.
Seven laps left now. Jorge Lorenzo will lose his championship lead to Stoner after this race. The Dovizioso, Crutchlow and Spies scrap intensifies. Spies tried to putting the move on the two Monster Yamaha's, but couldn't quite do it. Cal Crutchlow goes too deep into turn one, and slides into the gravel trap. That is the Coca Cola curve. Crutchlow recovers, but loses tons of time. Four laps to go. Stoner wants by Pedrosa into turn twelve but can't get there. Andrea Dovizioso and Ben Spies battle and Stefan Bradl is now sixth with two laps to go. Can Stoner make a move? Not quite. Stoner slides. Can Stoner get around the outside? Stoner closes the line up.
Coming to turn one, Stoner will not give up as the two bikes passed a lapped rider. They climb the hill into turns four through six. This is the Stemquell. Rossi passes Hayden and Stefan Bradl hangs on. Bradl fends off Rossi. Final lap. It's Pedrosa vs. Stoner. Bradl is going to pass Rossi and Crutchlow passes Barbera and Bautista. Dani Pedrosa sets fastest lap! Pedrosa has to push like you know what. Who's going to do it? Pedrosa wiggles and Stoner falls! That's the race. Pedrosa wins it!
#26 Dani Pedrosa ESP Honda
The rain began falling. Dovizioso and Spies get the positions after Stoner's wipeout. The next round of the championship will be the Italian Grand Prix taking place next weekend at the Mugello circuit.
The qualifying session was wet. In fifteen seconds, there were four polesitters! Nicky Hayden set fast laps but he was only able to manage seventh. Casey Stoner has pole even though Stefan Bradl, Dani Pedrosa and Ben Spies were also up there. Spies starts in second. Alvaro Bautista was penalized for crashing out Jorge Lorenzo in Holland. Colin Edwards is also running well. Stoner has his fourth pole of the year. This is Stefan Bradl's home race. Michele Pirro and Franco Battaini are two other riders to watch. Battaini is the test rider for Ducati, filling in for the injured Karel Abraham.
The bikes are on their warmup lap right now. This track is short and counterclockwise. It's the shortest track on the schedule, with thirteen turns. Turn 11 (the waterfall) is one of the best corners on the track. 30 laps is the race distance. Let's go get it!
At the start, Ben Spies gets the jump, but Dani Pedrosa is into the lead with Stoner passing Spies. Stefan Bradl is up to fifth. Jorge Lorenzo also has a good start. Cal Crutchlow loses three places into the Coca Cola Curve as the bikes go into the turn 9, 10, 11 complex, going to the final corner (the Sachsen Curve), to complete lap one. Lorenzo wants by Spies but cannot get there. This is a long race.
Lorenzo is trying to pass Spies while Bradl battles Cal Crutchlow. Alvaro Bautista is up to fourteenth, as the bikes come towards turn seven, into Stemquell. Casey Stoner flies by Pedrosa for the lead. Barbera passes Bradl and there's a battle between Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow, too. Crutchlow holds off Bradl, chasing his team mate, Andrea Dovizioso. Jorge Lorenzo goes back through turn eight another time. Dani Pedrosa is a three-time winner at the Sachsenring. Dovizioso closes on Lorenzo.
Casey Stoner turns a 1:22.6 lap time which is slower than Pedrosa's record last year. Pedrosa ran 1:22.3 in Friday morning practice. Michele Pirro is out of the race. Stoner runs fast lap at 1:22.624. Can Pedrosa win this race? His last win was in the Japan round in 2011. Pedrosa sets fast lap and is a tenth up on Stoner on lap four. Alvaro Bautista has come to twelfth spot, knocking on the door of the top ten. Lorenzo passes Ben Spiesx. Bautista passes Randy de Puniet and is past all the CRT bikes.
Cal Crutchlow battles Andrea Dovizioso. Crutchlow continues battling his fractured ankle. Nicky Hayden wants to get by Stefan Bradl. He thought so through turn twelve but couldn't do it as there's a huge battl;e between Dovizioso and Spies. Dovizioso takes fourth spot away. Crutchlow is running Spies down too. Crutchlow (in a bold move) passes Spies. Jorge Lorenzo is no quicker than the two leaders by a tenth (1:23 flat to 1:23.1). Jorge Lorenzo has not won at the Sachsenring yet.
Some dark clouds are gathering. There might be some rain. But, it's not certain yet. Crutchlow wants to pass Dovizioso. But, can he do it? For next year, Crutchlow might land on a factory Ducati while Andrea Dovizioso is looking to go to the factory Yamaha squad. The two riders are running for the Tech 3 Yamaha satellite team right now. Seventeen laps left in the race. Spies is dropping off the pace of the two Tech 3 Yamaha's. Dovizioso can run into the turns better. Dani Pedrosa sets fast lap. Not sure of the time, though.
Stoner is pushing Pedrosa, just like the Crutchlow/Dovizioso scrap. The race is now half over. Fifteen laps down. Fifteen to go as the bikes come through turn seven again, (the Stemquell). In the downhill section, Pedrosa is nearly right behind Stoner, but, he's going to have to make a move if he wants the lead. Stoner sets a 1:23.1. He may be slowing just a bit. Dani Pedrosa has now taken the lead. He can get more points since Lorenzo is out and Lorenzo is technically tied with Jorge Lorenzo for the points lead. Lorenzo is out of it.
Stoner is booking it with ten laps left. He just set his fastest lap. Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi pass Hector Barbera. Stoner is closing on Pedrosa. He's really getting off the corners well. Can Stoner drive around Pedrosa? Not this time. Three Yamaha's battle for fourth. It's Crutchlow, Dovizioso and Spies. Hauden, Barbera and Rossi scrap too, with Hector Faubel knocking on the door. Pedrosa is a tenth up on Stoner. The Ducati team was thinking about getting the spare bikes but changed their minds. Rain could come before the end.
Seven laps left now. Jorge Lorenzo will lose his championship lead to Stoner after this race. The Dovizioso, Crutchlow and Spies scrap intensifies. Spies tried to putting the move on the two Monster Yamaha's, but couldn't quite do it. Cal Crutchlow goes too deep into turn one, and slides into the gravel trap. That is the Coca Cola curve. Crutchlow recovers, but loses tons of time. Four laps to go. Stoner wants by Pedrosa into turn twelve but can't get there. Andrea Dovizioso and Ben Spies battle and Stefan Bradl is now sixth with two laps to go. Can Stoner make a move? Not quite. Stoner slides. Can Stoner get around the outside? Stoner closes the line up.
Coming to turn one, Stoner will not give up as the two bikes passed a lapped rider. They climb the hill into turns four through six. This is the Stemquell. Rossi passes Hayden and Stefan Bradl hangs on. Bradl fends off Rossi. Final lap. It's Pedrosa vs. Stoner. Bradl is going to pass Rossi and Crutchlow passes Barbera and Bautista. Dani Pedrosa sets fastest lap! Pedrosa has to push like you know what. Who's going to do it? Pedrosa wiggles and Stoner falls! That's the race. Pedrosa wins it!
#26 Dani Pedrosa ESP Honda
The rain began falling. Dovizioso and Spies get the positions after Stoner's wipeout. The next round of the championship will be the Italian Grand Prix taking place next weekend at the Mugello circuit.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
FIM World Superbike round 8: Aragon, Spain Race 2
Here are the highlights from race two of round eight for the FIM World Superbike Championship at Aragon in Spain.
At the start of race two, Max Biaggi takes the lead headed into the first corner. Meanwhile, Marco Melandri on the BMW is on a charge, getting around Eugene Laverty on the #58 Aprilia Racing Team factory RSV4 bike. It's Biaggi vs. Laverty. These two are team mates. Meanwhile, Melandri tries his best to go around both of them. Then, Biaggi gets revenge so to speak as he passes Laverty again. But, wait. Laverty isn't done just yet.
This is now a four way scrap. Chaz Davies on another Aprilia wants to mix it up with these three. Melandri flies around Davies. He runs wide and gives Davies a chance to come back. After recovering though, he's right onto Biaggi, trying to make a pass down the inside. Melandri makes that pass stick, and goes on to win race two at Motorland Aragon
#33 Marco Melandri ITA. BMW S1000RR
The next race on the schedule for World Superbike will be in seventeen days at the Brno circuit located in Brno, Czech Republic.
At the start of race two, Max Biaggi takes the lead headed into the first corner. Meanwhile, Marco Melandri on the BMW is on a charge, getting around Eugene Laverty on the #58 Aprilia Racing Team factory RSV4 bike. It's Biaggi vs. Laverty. These two are team mates. Meanwhile, Melandri tries his best to go around both of them. Then, Biaggi gets revenge so to speak as he passes Laverty again. But, wait. Laverty isn't done just yet.
This is now a four way scrap. Chaz Davies on another Aprilia wants to mix it up with these three. Melandri flies around Davies. He runs wide and gives Davies a chance to come back. After recovering though, he's right onto Biaggi, trying to make a pass down the inside. Melandri makes that pass stick, and goes on to win race two at Motorland Aragon
#33 Marco Melandri ITA. BMW S1000RR
The next race on the schedule for World Superbike will be in seventeen days at the Brno circuit located in Brno, Czech Republic.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Moto 2: Holland
In the Moto 2 race at the Dutch TT, Marc Marques on his #93 Suter bike won another race beating Andrea Ianonne and Scott Redding to the line. In fourth was Esteve Rabat with Alex de Angelis in fifth spot. Tom Luthi and Pol Espargaro were among the unclassified riders and it looks as if Tom Luthi didn't even take the start of the race, having completed zero laps. Again, the next race for all three series (MotoGP, Moto 2 and Moto 3), is going to be at the Sachsenring in Germany.
Moto 3: Holland
In the Moto 3 race at the Dutch TT, Maverick Vinales on his FTR Honda took the race win with several of the top riders getting top ten finishes and throughout the field. There were some notables who did not get classified. Jack Miller was disqualified for something. Danny Webb and Marcel Schrotter on the Mahindra team bikes were two notable retirements from the race. The next event for Moto 3 will be the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring. All the MotoGP riders will be running there as the next round of the championship of course. Stay tuned for updates from Moto 2 and the update on race two of World Superbike from Aragon in Spain.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
FIM World Superbike round 8: Aragon, Spain Race 1
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.
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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