Aprilia’s Eugene Laverty bounced back from a race one DNF to win the second.

Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) and Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) split wins in Portimao’s sixth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship over the long weekend.

Melandri won the opening race following a close battle in the closing stages with Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), that ended up with just a 0.007s gap between the two at the finish line – fourth smallest margin for victory ever in a WSBK race. A perfect exit out of the last corner was just not enough for the championship leader to snatch victory over the Italian.

The works Aprilia team’s race outcome was well saved by the Frenchman, following teammmate Laverty’s unfortunate retire on lap 12, consequence of a technical problem he sustained while he was on the lead.

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) – the only first row starter to finish the race – completed the podium with a solid third place, after losing some ground from the top in the final part. Best result so far in the season for Leon Camier and the FIXI Crescent Suzuki Team, as the tall British rider finished fourth ahead of a sore Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) and Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma Aprilia).

Camier’s teammate Jules Cluzel got the better of Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare) on the last lap, finishing eighth.

Pata Honda Team’s unfortunate first race of the day saw Jonathan Rea retiring due to a technical problem and Leon Haslam pulling in after losing the feeling in both arms, as the 30-year-old from Derby was trying to compensate the lack of strength in his injured left leg.

Laverty was the winner of race two at Portimao. The Irishman, back on the podium after the Italian round at Monza, managed to score his 4th victory of the season: of the seven wins achieved so far in his WSBK career, six of them came in the second race of the day.

The only rider able to keep up with the winner, at least in the first half of the race, was Rea. The Ulsterman was edged out of 2nd place in the closing stages by Guintoli, who completed the third one-two for the official Aprilia team in 2013 – after the total domination of round one at Phillip Island.

Sykes, following a very early crash during the sighting lap at turn two, managed after several attempts, to make his way back to the pits, from where he started the race.

Towards the end of lap one the Englishman had to pull in again but, after returning to the track for the third time, with no chances left for a top-15 finish, Sykes showed an incredible pace and even set the new lap record in 1m42.475.

The works Kawasaki team had something to cheer anyway, as Baz finished fourth ahead of Chaz Davies, a tenacious Carlos Checa and Jules Cluzel. An excessive rear-tyre wear forced Marco Melandri to ride defensively to a 12th place at the flag.

The issue that hampered the performance of the Italian rider is currently being analysed by Pirelli. A technical problem is the reason behind the withdrawal from race two by Camier on the 12th lap.

With a second and a third place in the two races Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) boosts his points tally to 213 to increase the gap in the points to 28 over Sykes and 39 on Laverty.

Even though a slight improvement between the two races, as per the application of FIM Regulations art. 2.4.8.1.3 Ducati will see the removal of the air restrictors on their 1199 Panigale R, starting from the next round at Imola.

A thrilling and spectacular four-way finale was the highest point of an incredible World Supersport race, won by Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) over Mahi Racing Team India duo of Fabien Foret and Kenan Sofuoglu.

Thanks to his fourth consecutive win of the season, the Brit extends his championship lead to 39 points on the defending WSS champion.

Top Australian was Matt Davies (PTR Honda) in 17th, with Australian champion Mitchell Carr (AARK Racing Triumph) 22nd.

Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) won the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup race at Portimao to become the new leader in the standings with an only one-point margin over Eddi La Marra (Barni Racing Ducati).

Franco Morbidelli (San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki) won a spectacular and unpredictable Superstock 600 race at Portimao, following a close battle for the victory in the closing stages.

Pole-sitter Adrian Nestorovic’s race drew to a very early end at the first turn after high-siding and landing badly on the tarmac. The Australian was diagnosed with no major injuries apart from a concussion.

Countryman Mike Jones claimed 10th on his Racedays Honda.

2013 Superbike World Championship
Round six – Portimao, Portugal

Superbike race one results:
1. Marco Melandri
2. Sylvain Guintoli
3. Tom Sykes
4. Leon Camier
5. Loris Baz
6. Chaz Davies
7. Michel Fabrizio
8. Jules Cluzel
9. Carlos Checa
10. Federico Sandi
11. Vittorio Iannuzzo
12. Ivan Clementi
13. Max Neukirchner

Superbike race two results:
1. Eugene Laverty
2. Sylvain Guintoli
3. Jonathan Rea
4. Loris Baz
5. Chaz Davies
6. Carlos Checa
7. Jules Cluzel
8. Ayrton Badovini
9. Davide Giugliano
10. Michel Fabrizio
11. Max Neukirchner
12. Marco Melandri
13. Federico Sandi
14. Alexander Lundh
15. Vittorio Iannuzzo
16. Ivan Clementi