Melandri's big day out
BMW's emergence as a bona-fide World Superbike power has continued with overall victory at round six of the championship in AmericaItalian hard-charger Marco Melandri scooped the overall honours in round six of the 2012 Superbike World Championship at Miler Motorsports Park in Utah on May 28.
The BMW rider finished second and first in the two races, and has now clawed his way up to equal second in the championship alongside Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes on 142.5 points. Max Biaggi (Aprilia) leads the way on 160.5 points after six of 14 rounds.
“It is amazing. My team and BMW did an awesome job,” said Melandri. “Miller was my worst weekend last year, and it was the worst for BMW, too. So going home with two podiums, a win and a second place, is like a dream.”
The opening 21-lap race at the high-altitude Miller layout was won by defending world champion Carlos Checa, who eased his Ducati to a 2.313-second victory over Melandri, with Biaggi just getting the better of Honda’s Jonathan Rea for third position. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) was fifth.
The win was Checa’s fifth at his pet circuit, and he was well on his way to adding to that tally in the shortened race two when he crashed out, handing the lead over to Melandri.
Checa has now slipped to fifth in the championship on 130.5 points, behind Rea on 141.
Meanwhile, Melandri wasn’t about to enjoy free rein once Checa departed, with Rea, Chaz Davies (Aprilia) and Biaggi soon turning it into a four-way scrap at the pointy end.
That tight tussle lasted for a few laps before it splintered into two battle fronts – Rea versus Melandri and Davies against Biaggi.
Rea poked his nose in front for most of the last six laps, before the iron-willed Melandri produced a searing passing move on the final circuit to annex top spot, beating his opponent to the flag by just 0.195 seconds.
It was Melandri’s second win as many rounds, and reaffirms BMW’s credentials as a legitimate championship contender.
Biaggi eventually brushed aside Davies – the 2011 World Supersport champion – to finish third, while Sykes fended off a persistent Laverty to finish fifth.
Australia didn’t have a rider on the grid at Miller following Mark Aitchison’s split from his privateer Italian BMW team.
MILLER WORLD SUPERBIKE RESULTS
Race one: 21 laps
1 Carlos Checa, Spain, Ducati
2 Marco Melandri Italy, BMW +2.313
3 Max Biaggi, Italy, Aprilia +5.338
4 Jonathan Rea, Great Britain +5.517
5 Eugene Laverty, Great Britain, Aprilia +12.201
6 Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic, Ducati +13.262
7 Chaz Davies, Great Britain, Aprilia +19.662
8 Tom Sykes, Great Britain, Kawasaki +21.292
9 Michel Fabrizio, Italy, BMW +21.450
10 Leon Haslam, Great Britain, BMW +23.433
Fastest lap: Haslam – 1:48.867
Race two: 18 laps
1 Melandri
2 Rea +0.195
3 Biaggi +2.137
4 Davies +4.245
5 Sykes +9.534
6 Laverty +9.798
7 Davide Giugliano, Italy, Ducati +11.891
8 Haslam +12.715
9 Smrz +13.017
10 Sylvain Guintoli, France, Ducati +13.703
Fastest lap: Checa – 1:48.820
CURRENT WORLD SUPERBIKE STANDINGS (AFTER SIX OF 14 ROUNDS)
1 Biaggi 160.5
2= Melandri 142.5
2= Sykes 142.5
4 Rea 141
5 Checa 130.5
6 Haslam 103
7 Guintoli 95
8 Laverty 86
9 Giugliano 64
10 Smrz 61.5
Next round: Misano, June 10
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
