Aruba Ducati’s Chaz Davies bounced back from his crash in the opening WorldSBK race at Aragon yesterday to break Jonathan Rea’s five-race winning streak with victory in the second outing in Spain today.
The pair had a titanic final two laps after it looked like Davies - who made his way through from the fourth row - had found enough pace to break the Kawasaki man. But a big moment at turn nine allowed Rea to get back on the Panigale’s rear and Rea tried to push past at the start of the final lap.
Davies was having none of it, however, and muscled back past the ZX-10RR leaving Rea only a couple of places left to make a move. Knowing he didn’t have the speed to live with the Ducati out of the final chicane at turn 15, Rea put in a do-or-die manoeuvre on the brakes but ran wide.
This allowed Davies to pick up the throttle earlier and get enough of a gap to carry his speed unchallenged around turns 15 and 16 to the the win and claw back five vital points in the championship chase. He now trails Rea by two race wins.
Davies’ team-mate Marco Melandri was also in the hunt until the final three laps. He had been passed by the Welshman on his charge into the lead but bagged second when he went under Rea at turn four with four laps left to run. This could have given Davies - who changed to the softest-available Pirelli - the break he needed but Rea fought straight back.
Then a big moment for the Italian put him out of contention and he settled for the final podium spot. Tom Sykes has, like half the WorldSBK paddock, been battling a virus all weekend ended in fourth place but nearly 11 seconds behind the leader.
Michael Van Der Mark ended up with a lonely race in fifth place after challenging early doors. He and Pata Yamaha team-mate Alex Lowes were right in the podium mix but a false neutral forced Lowes to run off track with seven laps to go and he went out of contention - eventually finishing in 13th place.
Xavi Fores fought bravely for sixth place after being burned when his Barni Panigale caught fire yesterday. Jordi Torres scythed his way backwards from a front-row start but recovered for seventh, one ahead of Tati Mercado on the Ioda Aprilia.
Milwaukee’s troubles continue as Eugene Laverty could only muster ninth place after making good pace early in the race. Mick Shanley and his crew will be head-scratching again this week as they try to give the Irishman what he needs to be competitive at Assen.
Leon Camier brought the MV Agusta home in 11th place, one ahead of Roman Ramos and Stefan Bradl. Nicky Hayden retired.
