Source: WSBK.

After 25 thrilling laps, Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) has won the opening eni Superbike World Championship race of the day at Laguna Seca. The Italian rider adds another victory to his tally of 16 WSBK race wins reaching the likes of Giancarlo Falappa, Neil Hodgson and James Toseland.

Starting from Pole Position it was Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) who initially took the holeshot into turn one ahead of the works Aprilia duo of Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli who both passed the reigning champion at the end of lap one after Sykes made a mistake at the Corkscrew.

Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team) crashed spectacularly from 4th on lap two as the leading three began to edge away from the fast starting Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) who was promoted to fourth after the Ducati rider’s departure.

By quarter race distance the circuit lap record set in 2013 had been smashed and the top three riders had a comfortable gap over the chasing pack.

As the race entered the final third, the tense battle at the front intensified as Guintoli applied the pressure to his Italian teammate with Sykes watching the action unfold in front of him before the Italian broke away.

At the flag it was a rather spread out affair with Melandri taking the win, his 3rd of the season ahead of Guintoli and Sykes who claimed the final podium place.

Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) finished a solid fourth with Toni Elias (Red Devils Roma Aprilia) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) completing the top 6.

In the battle of the EVO riders it was David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team) that took the honours coming home in a solid 10th with Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) 11th and Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia) 12th.

Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was classified 15th and took the final championship point on his debut for the Italian team.

Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) was a notable retirement as were Ayrton Badovini (Team Bimota Alstare), Aaron Yates (Team Hero EBR) and Peter Sebestyen (Team Toth BMW).

The second WSBK race at Laguna Seca was as hot on track as the air temperature as after two red flags and restarts, Sykes came out victorious in the seven-lap sprint race that put an end to the ninth round, which saw a total 49,408 attendants during the three days.

Thanks to his 22nd career win, the reigning champion added one tiny point to his championship lead over Guintoli, second at the flag and now 44 points behind the reigning champion. Rea completed the podium of the second encounter, finishing on a high note in what has been his first ever visit to Laguna Seca.

From the first start it was Sykes who once again grabbed the holeshot into turn one and as the packed field sorted themselves out around the first few turns it was Guintoli and race one winner and teammate Melandri who slotted himself into second and third ahead of the fast starting Laverty.

Guintoli applied the pressure immediately and after following the reigning champion for a couple of laps made his move, taking the lead into turn 6 on lap 5 only to lose it straight afterwards as Sykes successfully fought back.

Melandri also seized the moment to take advantage of an off line Guintoli to move into third as the battle at the front now raged between six riders after Giugliano and Elias looked to get in on the act.

Lap 11 saw the red flags shown after Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) suffered a spectacular crash at the Corkscrew. The British rider was taken to the medical centre for further checks but fortunately the reigning BSB Champion got away with no fractures.

After a short delay the race was restarted over seven laps with grid positions decided by the race positions prior to the stop. That meant Sykes was still on pole with the Aprilia duo of Melandri and Guintoli alongside. Row two for the restart saw Laverty, Elias and Giugliano.

When the race resumed the action was fast and furious but after only one completed lap the red flags were out again as Barrier crashed out on the start and finish straight. The Frenchman, who was conscious and alert, was taken to the Medical Centre for further checks that revealed a dislocated and fractured left subtalar joint.

However and at the third time of asking the race distance was completed with Sykes taking the win ahead of Guintoli and Rea who completed the podium places after Melandri crashed out of the lead, followed a short time later by Davide Giugliano who had been charging through the field.

A disappointing end of the race for both Italian riders, especially for Melandri who looked capable of taking his second double win of the season.

Laverty, Elias and Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) rounded out the top six whilst in the EVO category the best classified rider was once again Salom, who finished a respectable eighth overall.

2014 Superbike World Championship
Round nine – Laguna Seca, USA

Superbike race one results:
1. Marco Melandri
2. Sylvain Guintoli
3. Tom Sykes
4. Davide Giugliano
5. Toni Elias
6. Jonathan Rea
7. Leon Haslam
8. Alex Lowes
9. Loris Baz
10. David Salom
13. Bryan Staring (AUS)

Superbike race two results:
1. Tom Sykes
2. Sylvain Guintoli
3. Jonathan Rea
4. Eugene Laverty
5. Toni Elias
6. Loris Baz
7. Leon Haslam
8. David Salom
9. Alessandro Andreozzi
10. Leon Camier
12. Bryan Staring (AUS)

Superbike championship standings:
1. Tom Sykes 325
2. Sylvain Guintoli 281
3. Jonathan Rea 261
4. Loris Baz 253
5. Marco Melandri 217
6. Chaz Davies 159
7. Davide Giugliano 153
8. Toni Elias 137
9. Eugene Laverty 134
10. Leon Haslam 133
22 Bryan Staring (AUS) 12
23. Glenn Allerton (AUS) 6

Click here for detailed results