Portugal WSB: Melandri and Laverty secure final Yamaha 1-2

Yamaha end their official participation in the World Superbikes championship with a 1-2, thanks to Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty securing the top steps of the podium at Portimao. The team mates passed Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) early on, with Laverty leading the majority of the race before trading places with three laps remaining, when Melandri denied Laverty the race win.

Rea defended third throughout, challenging and passing Laverty in the penultimate lap before the Yamaha rider reclaimed second.

Championship winner Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) rode and Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing rider Sylvain Guintoli rode consistently, maintaining their respective fourth and fifth positions throughout the race.

Aprilia Alitalia team mates Leon Camier and Max Biaggi finished the final race of the season in sixth and seventh ahead of Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) in eighth and Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) in ninth. Noriyuki Haga completes the top ten for the PATA Aprilia Racing Team.

Leon Haslam took fifteenth, whilst BMW Motorrad Motorsport team mate Troy Corser completed his last race in sixteenth place.

1. Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team) Yamaha YZF R1 38’11.326
2. Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) Yamaha YZF R1 38’12.401
3. Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) Honda CBR1000RR 38’12.689
4. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 38’13.974
5. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 38’14.681
6. Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 38’16.035
7. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 38’17.840
8. Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 38’25.767
9. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) BMW S1000 RR 38’30.454
10. Maxime Berger (Supersonic Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 38’36.853
11. Noriyuki Haga (PATA Racing Team Aprilia) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 38’37.726
12. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 38’37.972
13. Jakub Smrz (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 38’38.289
14. Michel Fabrizio (Team Suzuki Alstare) Suzuki GSX-R1000 38’41.535
15. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 38’42.277
16. Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 38’42.383
17. Karl Muggeridge (Castrol Honda) Honda CBR1000RR 39’09.267
18. Joshua Waters (Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team) Suzuki GSX-R1000 39’09.903
19. Javier Fores (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) BMW S1000 RR 39’15.337
20. Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 39’15.723
RT. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike) Kawasaki ZX-10R 30’14.414
RT. Santiago Barragan (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 16’23.513