World Super Bikes 2012 | Donington

World Super Bikes 2012

Round 5 – DoningtonPark– 11^th May – 13^th May 2012

Author: Chris Maher, Pictures courtesy of: Chris Maher | Photography

European Round – 5

Superpole

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tom Sykes posted the quickest lap time in the Superpole Qualifier, of 1.27.716 to almost beat the lap record, with an average speed of 165.110 kmph. This is Sykes fourth Superpole this season.

The two BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s of Haslam & Melandri were a close second and third, whilst championship contender Althea’s Carlos Checa failed to make onto the first two rows with a ninth place on the third row.

Front Row Grid

1. Tom Sykes                  –          KawasakiRacing Team                      1.27.716
2. Leon Haslam               –           BMW Motorrad Motorsport               1.27.864
3. Marco Melandri          –           BMW Motorrad Motorsport               1.28.177
4. Max Biaggi                 –           Aprilia Racing Team                           1.28.340

Race 1

Speedy Lap Winner – Max Biaggi on lap 6 with a 1.28.992

Result – WSBK

1. Marco Melandri   –           BMW Motorrad Motorsport
2. Leon Haslam        –           BMW Motorrad Motorsport
3. Tom Sykes           –          KawasakiRacing Team
4. Jonathan Rea        –           Honda World Superbike Team

BMW Motorrad Motorsport get their first SBK win. Both Haslam and Melandri take the top positions after jostling for the win in an action packed race. Superpole winner Sykes had to settle for third position, but ahead of championship leaders Checa and Biaggi.

 

Race 2

1. Jonathan Rea         –           Honda World Superbike Team
2. Max Biaggi           –           Aprilia Racing Team
3. Tom Sykes            –          KawasakiRacing Team
4. Leon Camier         –          FIXI CrescentSuzuki

Speedy Lap Winner – Max Biaggi on lap 4 with a 1.28.995

Race two was full of drama. Championship leader Carlos Checa got tipped off on turn one by Liberty Racing – Team Effenbert’s Jakub Smrz.

Tom Sykes got a good start to lead the first half of the race but lost it to Biaggi and the two BMW bikes.

Towards the final bend, both BMW’s were under pressure from Tom Sykes. But a last minuet charge by Jonathon Rea, into a gap left open by Melandri, saw him pushed off his bike whilst trying to close the door and into team mate Leon Haslam who had overshot. Rea went on to win Race Two with Biaggi second and Sykes on the podium for third.

Standings after Round 3

1. Max Biaggi           –           Aprilia Racing Team                           128.5
2. Tom Sykes            –          KawasakiRacing Team                      123.5
3. Jonathan Rea         –           Honda World Superbike Team           108
4. Carlos Checa         –           Althea Racing                                     105.5
5. Marco Melandri    –           BMW Motorrad Motorsport               97.5
6. Leon Haslam         –           BMW Motorrad Motorsport               89
7. Sylvain Guintoli    –           Team Effenbert -LibertyRacing        85
8. Eugene Laverty     –           Aprilia Racing Team                           65
9. Davide Giugliano  –           Althea Racing                                     50
10. Jakub Smrz            –          LibertyRacing – Team Effenbert        44.5

 

Calendar 2012

26 Feb            Australia,PhillipIsland

01 Apr            Italy, Imola

22 Apr             Netherland, Assen

06 May           Italy,Monza

13 May           Europe, Donington

28 May            USA,MillerMotorsportsPark

10 Jun             San Marino, Misano

01 Jul              Spain,Aragon

22 Jul               CzechRepublic,Brno

05 Aug            Great Britain, Silverstone

26 Aug            Russia,Moscow

09 Sep             Germany, Nurburgring

23 Sep             Portugal, Portimao

07 Oct            France, Magny-Cours

Official Website: SBK

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