Davies breaks 58-race Ducati drought

Kawasaki's Jonathan Rea and Ducati's Chaz Davies have shared first and second places in round three of the 2015 Superbike World Championship at MotorLand Aragaon in Spain on Sunday, April 12.

Rea's victory wasn't unexpected after three wins in the opening two rounds, while Davies' triumph not only snapped a 58-race drought for Ducati but it was also the Welshman's first win since 2013.

“We’ve come close before now but today we finally did it!" said Davies. "This has been my only goal since coming to Ducati and I’m very pleased to have achieved this result here.
"It’s extremely important to me, to be able to repay Ducati, Aruba and all of the Ducatisti with the first win for the Panigale R. I know that everyone has been working tirelessly to obtain this result."

In the opening 18-lap encounter, Rea claimed his fourth win of the season, equalling his previous best for number of victories in a year in just five starts. The Ulsterman came out on top at the end of an enthralling last lap which him lose the lead only to retake it on the final corner from Davies. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) and Aprilia teammates Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres completed the top five.

Davies cleared away in race two to win from Rea and Haslam, who maintained close company for the whole distance. Sykes was running fourth and looked comfortable before high-siding spectacularly on lap five. Reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) also fell at the fast turn 14, but the Frenchman was able to walk away.

Torres and Xavi Fores (Aruba.it Ducati Superbike Team) were fourth and fifth.

In world supersport, the first European race of the championship was decided in favour of Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). Poleman Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto) was in contention for the second race in a row before he suffered a technical problem while fighting for the lead. The Frenchman was clearly distraught as he retired on lap 12, leaving former champion Sofuoglu to claim his 21st world supersport victory by a comfortable margin of 3.224 seconds, and with it the championship lead.

PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) who was also in the hunt from the start eventually finished second, with Pata Honda's Kyle Smith taking the final podium place.

Australia's Glenn Scott (AARK Racing Honda) was 18th, and in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup Perth's Bryan Staring (Pedercini Kawasaki) was sixth in his return to the category — but only 3.872secs behind the winner.

The next round of the championships will be held at Assen, Holland from April 17-19.

For full results from MotorLand Aragon, click here.