Misano WSB: Sykes takes double in Misano race two

Tom Sykes has completed another double World Superbike double at Misano, taking yet another controlling victory ahead of teammate Loris Baz to give the Kawasaki team their eighth one-two of the season.

Davide Guigliano was the early leader, pulling clear at the front straight from the time – but soon to be demoted backwards after race officials elided he had marginally jumped the start. From there on it was clear road ahead for Sykes, who disappeared down the road to eventually take the flag by three seconds.

Baz had a harder time than in race one, however, having to hold off the advances of Marco Melandri in the closing stages. However, the young French rider rode one of the races of his career to hod the former world champion behind him and create a replica of the race one podium.

Sylvain Guintoli, initially part of the Baz/Melandri battle, finished fourth, a second and a half back, but there was then a huge 13 second gap back to Jonathan Rea in fifth, who spent the race battling with Toni Elias. Rea’s Pata Honda teammate Leon Haslam was less fortunate, finishing 12th after crashing and rejoining.

Eugene Laverty was a heroic seventh, after admitting after race one that he believe he re-broke the bones in his foot, damaged while testing the Suzuki MotoGP bike last month, during the race. His Voltcom Crescent Suzuki teammate Alex Lowes was eighth, ahead of the rejoining Guigliano and David Salom on the first of the Evo bikes.

Chaz Davies was also unfortunate, ending his day in the gravel trap, alongside fellow Brit Christian Iddon on the Bimota BB3.

“I wasn’t prepared to chase Davide for the early stages, because I knew he only had the speed for half the race, but it was happy days when I saw him pull over,” said Sykes after the race. “After that, it was just a case of setting my own pace at the front until the flag.”