Sykes and Hayden the WorldSBK victors

American star Nicky Hayden has won is first world superbike race, holding off a fast-finishing Davide Giugliano (Ducati) in race two at a very wet Sepang in Malaysia on May 16.

Hayden's win, in his sixth WorldSBK round, marked the return of Honda to the top step of the podium for the first time since 2014, when Jonathan Rea was victorious at Portimão.

"I’m really happy for this win," said Hayden. "When it started raining I knew I had to go for it: I’m definitely not in the championship fight and that meant I could risk a bit more.

"In the first laps I took some chances to get to the front and I didn’t want to get caught up racing in a pack like in Assen. I wanted to be at the front with clear visibility. As I got to the front the bike worked so well because the team knows the bike inside out and the set-up was perfect.

"I tried to stay as comfortable as possible while in the lead because we weren’t sure of tyre durability on this track with the new asphalt. I managed to pull a gap and definitely in the end wasn’t easy, because those guys were coming for me. I was able to hold on to the lead and get my first win in a long time. It’s been a few dry years but I never stopped trying; to get a win at this point in my career in superbike is truly amazing."

A day earlier, Hayden finished well back in eighth in the dry opener, won in convincing fashion by polesitter Tom Sykes ahead of Kawasaki teammate Jonathan Rea and Chaz Davies (Ducati).

Meanwhile, Australia's Anthony West put on a spectacular performance as a fill-in rider at Pedercini Kawasaki, scoring 9-5 results across the two races. West's countrymen Josh Brookes (BMW, 11-12) and Josh Hook (Kawasaki, 15-15) also scored points.

"Awesome weekend — the first time on a WSBK (machine) has been fun," said West on his Facebook account. "I enjoy riding the bigger class. Ninth and a fifth on bike I've never seen before I think is more then we could ask for!"

West's multi-tasking year will now continue in Spain this week when he tests a Moto2 machine in Spain.

In race one, Jordi Torres (BMW) and Alex Lowes (Yamaha) completed the top five, and in the second Davies finished ahead of West in fourth. Sykes was eighth.

Rea now leads the championship on 257pts from Davies (215) and Sykes (187).

In a wet world supersport race, Italian Ayrton Badovini (Honda) from local rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Kawasaki) and Gino Rea (MV Agusta). American PJ Jacobsen (Honda) was fourth from Kyle Smith (Honda), Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawaski), Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta) and Randy Krummenacher (Kawasaki).

Australians Aiden Wagner (MV Agusta) and Lachlan Epis (Kawasaki) were 16th and 19th.

Sofuoglu leads on 96pts from Krummenacher (79), Cluzel (67), Smith (57) and Jacobsen (56).

SEPANG RESULTS AND STANDINGS