Sykes wins in dramatic day at Monza

Kawasaki rider Tom Sykes produced a runaway victory in the only World Superbike race completed in a rain-affected round four of the championship at Monza overnight.

With race one eventually cancelled for safety reasons, the second began in dry conditions and Sykes bolted from the outset, building a huge lead before it again started to rain on lap nine of the scheduled 17-lap journey.

The race was immediately red-flagged with results taken after lap eight, which saw Sykes claim the biggest win of the year on the strength of his searing pace – 9.709 seconds over BMW’s Leon Haslam.

Only half points were awarded, but it still means Sykes has closed the gap on championship leaders Max Biaggi (Aprilia) and Carlos Checa (Ducati), with only 6pts separating the trio after four of 14 rounds.

“My second win for Kawasaki but my first this year and it was nice to get that one under the belt,” said Sykes. “It is a shame that it is only half points but we put on a good show in eight laps and I hope I put on a good show for the Italian fans.

“This was my first podium at Monza so that is good and the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R has been working fantastically well. From the green light the feedback on my bike was fantastic and I was able to go about my business in a good way and keep out of trouble. I had a great start and got myself into the lead and as Elvis once said, ‘It’s now or never’.”

The battle for second place in race two was intense, and when the action was declared early five riders finished just over a second in arrears of Haslam, led by Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) ahead of Marco Melandri (BMW), Biaggi, Jonathan Rea (Honda) and Checa.

Australia’s Mark Aitchison (BMW) hapless year continued when he fell on the warm-up lap in the eventually abandoned race one, and he didn’t front the starter for race two. He won’t have much time to dwell on his misfortune, as the next round of the championship will be held at Donington from May 11-13.

When the race began, Parkes’ Honda rocketed into the lead but before the 30-year-old could settle into a rhythm, the front of his bike tucked as soon as he touched the brakes for the first chicane.

“There’s not a lot to talk about really – just disappointment for myself and for the team who worked really hard to give me a good bike here,” said Parkes. “The conditions were not perfect and I just didn’t know the corner was that slippery. I had the bike upright on the brakes and tucked the front and that was it.

“It’s going to be difficult but there are still a few races, so we’ll take our chances at each one and see what happens.”

Melbourne rider Jed Metcher (Yamaha) was 11th.

MONZA WORLD SUPERBIKE RESULTS
Race one: cancelled

Race two: 8 laps
1 Tom Sykes, Great Britain, Kawasaki
2 Leon Haslam, Great Britain, BMW +9.709
3 Eugene Laverty, Great Britain, Aprilia +10.119
4 Marco Melandri Italy, BMW +10.294
5 Max Biaggi, Italy, Aprilia +10.527
6 Jonathan Rea, Great Britain, Honda +10.638
7 Carlos Checa, Spain, Ducati +10.899
8 Davide Giugliano, Italy, Ducati +12.195
9 Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic, Ducati +13.199
10 Ayrton Badovini, Italy, BMW + 19.372
DNS Mark Aitchison, Australia, BMW +7 laps

Fastest lap: Sykes – 1:44.707

CURRENT WORLD SUPERBIKE STANDINGS (AFTER FOUR OF 14 ROUNDS):
1 Biaggi 97.5
2 Checa 95.5
3 Sykes 91.5
4 Melandri 72.5
5 Rea 70
6 Haslam 68
7 Sylvain Guintoli, France, Ducati 66
8 Laverty 64
9 Smrz 42.5
10 Giugliano 51
24 Aitchison 1

Next round: Donington, May 11-13