Source: WSBK.

In one of the closest races of the season so far Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) has taken the win in race one at Jerez after a 20 lap encounter that saw the leading group of eight riders exchanging places at almost every turn in the early stages. Melandri scored his fourth win as factory Aprilia rider and the 17th of his career.

From the start it was the Aprilia duo of Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli who lead the pack with the Frenchman passing his Italian teammate at turn three.

Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) took the lead at the end of the fourth lap and the two compatriots began to ease away. Not content with second, Guintoli responded and retook the lead on lap eight with the chasing pack, now led by Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) closing in.

Giugliano, who had been passed for third by Melandri, crashed out at the start of the eleventh lap while reigning champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) also ran off the track at the end of the long back straight as he attempted to improve from seventh.

After running as high as third on the opening two laps Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) crashed unhurt from ninth, he was followed a lap later by Baz who went down after making contact with the back of Melandri’s Aprilia.

At the flag it was all smiles in the Aprilia camp with Melandri coming home ahead of Guintoli with Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team) taking the final podium position in third.

Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) was fourth with Tom Sykes and Eugene Laverty fifth and sixth respectively. Reigning champion Sykes still leads the standings with now a 35-point advantage on Guintoli.

Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia) was just beaten to top spot in the EVO battle coming home in 10th overall just behind David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team) who was ninth. Salom now extends his points advantage in the EVO category to 42 points.

Melandri took his second double of the year on Sunday after another dominating performance at Jerez in race two. The experienced Italian rider elevated himself into the lead in the final third of the encounter after overtaking his teammate Guintoli, then he pulled away to secure the first position at the chequered flag.

The former 250cc World Champion added another win to his tally to become the second most successful Italian race winner in the series after Max Biaggi.

Thanks to another second place finish, Guintoli has narrowed the gap to the top of the standings to 31 points as championship leader Sykes was third. The podium finishers were awarded with their trophies by Alfa Romeo Ambassador Jorge Lorenzo.

Completing the top six were Davies, Rea and Laverty while the best EVO classified rider was Barrier, who finished 11th overall and comfortably ahead of 12th placed Sheridan Morais (Iron Brain Grillini Kawasaki).

Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) endured another difficult race as he was forced to retire at the end of lap three due to a technical problem. Both EVO points leader Salom and Alessandro Andreozzi (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) failed to make it to the finish line after falling off their respective machines.

There was jubilation for Team Toth BMW who achieved their third point scoring finish of the season courtesy of a 14th place finish by replacement rider Gabor Rizmayer.

Bryan Staring crashed his Iron Brain Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R in race one and fell victim to the one-bike rule as his bike was too badly damaged to repair for race two.

A race-long fight at the front involving five riders raged in Spain this afternoon as Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) became the 2014 World Supersport Champion in style by winning at Jerez as his closest championship rival Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) crashed out of the lead at the end of the penultimate lap.

Completing the podium were the Intermoto Kawasaki Ponyexpres team mates PJ Jacobsen and Florian Marino. Jack Kennedy (CIA Insurance Honda), Kev Coghlan (DMC-Panavto Yamaha) and Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) rounded out the top six.

Australian Matt Davies (Aark Racing) finished 20th on his return to the World Supersport Championship.

A reduced 10-lap FIM Superstock 1000cc Cup saw a tense race long fight between three riders with the honours eventually going to Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing Ducati), who claimed his second win of the season and with it retook the lead in the championship.

Upon return to international racing with EAB Ducati, Victorian Jed Metcher crashed out of the STK1000 race after qualifying 10th.

2014 Superbike World Championship
Round 10 – Jerez, Spain

Superbike race one results:
1. Marco Melandri
2. Sylvain Guintoli +1.397s
3. Chaz Davies +4.283s
4. Jonathan Rea +5.705s
5. Tom Sykes +6.979s
6. Eugene Laverty +7.342s
7. Leon Haslam +14.868s
8. Toni Elias +23.853s
9. David Salom +25.886s (E)
10. Sylvain Barrier +26.536s (E)

Superbike race two results:
1. Marco Melandri
2. Sylvain Guintoli +1.397s
3. Chaz Davies +4.283s
4. Jonathan Rea +5.705s
5. Tom Sykes +6.979s
6. Eugene Laverty +7.342s
7. Leon Haslam +14.868s
8. Toni Elias +23.853s
9. David Salom +25.886s (E)
10. Sylvain Barrier +26.536s (E)

Superbike championship standings:
1. Tom Sykes 352
2. Sylvain Guintoli 321
3. Jonathan Rea 285
4. Marco Melandri 267
5. Loris Baz 262
6. Chaz Davies 188
7. Eugene Laverty 154
8. Davide Giugliano 153
9. Toni Elias 151
10. Leon Haslam 150
22. Bryan Staring (AUS) 12 (E)

Supersport race results:
1. Michael van der Mark
2. PJ Jacobsen +0.363s
3. Florian Marino +0.508s
4. Jack Kennedy +0.960s
5. Kev Coghlan +2.951s
6. Lorenzo Zanetti +4.639s
7. Roberto Rolfo +5.860s
8. Ratthapark Wilairot +6.460s
9. Alessandro Nocco +10.477s
10. Roberto Tamburini +10.875s
20. Matt Davies (AUS) +1m05.177

Supersport championship standings:
1. Michael van der Mark 185
2. Florian Marino 109
3. Jules Cluzel 107
4. Lorenzo Zanetti 90
5. Kev Coghlan 88
6. PJ Jacobsen 87
7. Kenan Sofuoglu 86
8. Roberto Rolfo 71
9. Raffaele de Rosa 67
10. Jack Kennedy 56

Click here for detailed results