The penultimate round of the 2014 eni FIM Superbike World witnessed a change of momentum for the title race, as a win and a second place in the two wet races at Magny-Cours saw Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) narrow the gap to leader Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) to just 12 points.

Marco Melandri, who was second and first in the two encounters, completed the perfect race meeting for Italian works manufacturer. The former 250cc World Champion showed great form once again by stepping atop the podium for the sixth time in 12 races.

Sykes on the other hand did his best to contain the damage by finishing the two races in fourth place after claiming an impressive Superpole in dry conditions the day before, when he took the outright fastest lap ever recorded at the circuit.

Guintoli took race one in front of an enthusiastic French crowd, edging out at the finish line his teammate Marco Melandri after he pulled aside in the closing stages under team orders.

Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) scored a well deserved third place ahead of KRT duo of Sykes and Loris Baz.

In the EVO category, Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia) claimed a solid 10th position to close the gap on EVO points leader David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team), who elected not to ride.

Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team), Toni Elias (Red Devils Roma Aprilia), Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team), Xavi Fores (3C Racing Team), Alessandro Andreozzi (Team Pedercini) all crashed without injury with Giugliano and Laverty re-joining to finish seventh and 19th respectively.

In similar conditions to the opening race of the day, Melandri won race two as he crossed the finish line with a 2.6 second advantage over teammate Guintoli. Thanks to his sixth win in the last 12 races, Melandri elevates himself to third place in the standings.

Earlier leaders Davide Giugliano (Ducati) and Rea both crashed spectacularly, before remounting only to retire to the pits. Rea’s crash left the Aprilia pairing of Guintoli and Melandri to dual it out for the victory with the Italian getting the better of his French teammate this time out.

Leon Haslam rode superbly aboard his Honda overhauling reigning champion Sykes in the closing stages to take his first podium since Misano 2012 and his first since joining the Pata Honda World Superbike team.

In the EVO fight, top honours went to Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati). Best classified EVO rider in race one Barrier crashed twice, the second signalling the end of his race. He was uninjured.

Australian Bryan Staring was a lap down in 14th during race one, but crashed out of proceedings in race two for the Grillini Kawasaki team.

The penultimate round of the World Supersport Championship was held in difficult conditions over a reduced race distance of 17 laps but cut short after 12 laps.

Full of drama with a number of riders crashing out, the victory eventually went in emphatic style to Frenchman Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who claimed his third win of the year by over 18 seconds.

Newly-crowned champion Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport) finished second after falling, remounting and then passing several riders to move back onto the podium on lap 10. Roberto Rolfo (Go Eleven Kawasaki) started 17th to win a tense fight for the final podium position. Aussie Matt Davies made it into the points with a sterling ride to 13th.

Augusto Fernandez (WIL Sport) has clinched the 2014 Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda title after an intense 10 lap race at Magny-Cours, held under wet conditions, while Australian Brandon Demmery’s debut came to an end via a crash in difficult conditions.

Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) has become the 2014 FIM Superstock 1000cc Cup winner after finishing fourth in today’s final race at Magny-Cours.

Leading from lap one it was his arch rival Lorenzo Savadori (Team Pedercini) who led, the Italian looking odds on to finish second in the race and steal the crown until he crashed spectacularly on the final lap.

Matthieu Lussiana (Team Garnier by ASPI) claimed his first-ever race victory from Romain Lanusse (Team Pedercini), while Victorian Jed Metcher (EAB Racing) completed the podium.

2014 Superbike World Championship
Round 11 – Magny-Cours, France

Superbike race one results:
1. Sylvain Guintoli
2. Marco Melandri +2.257s
3. Jonathan Rea +5.954s
4. Tom Sykes +15.670s
5. Loris Baz +16.149s
6. Leon Haslam +29.411s
7. Davide Giugliano +57.319s
8. Lorenzo Lanzi +59.306s
9. Max Neukirchner +1m12.774
10. Sylvain Barrier +1m22.931
14. Bryan Staring (AUS) +1 lap

Superbike race two results:
1. Marco Melandri
2. Sylvain Guintoli +2.689s
3. Leon Haslam +16.450s
4. Tom Sykes +20.759s
5. Lorenzo Lanzi +46.689s
6. Max Neukirchner +58.490s
7. Loris Baz +1m03.100
8. Claudio Corti +1m24.699
9. Chaz Davies +1m27.899
10. Niccolo Canepa +1m51.706

Superbike championship standings:
1. Tom Sykes 378
2. Sylvain Guintoli 366
3. Marco Melandri 312
4. Jonathan Rea 301
5. Loris Baz 282
6. Chaz Davies 195
7. Leon Haslam 176
8. Davide Giugliano 162
9. Eugene Laverty 154
10. Toni Elias 151
24. Bryan Staring (AUS) 14

Supersport race results:
1. Jules Cluzel
2. Michael van der Mark +20.774s
3. Roberto Rolfo +24.232s
4. Lorenzo Zanetti +24.911s
5. Florian Marino +26.559s
6. Kev Coghlan +26.860s
7. Roberto Tamburini +28.110s
8. PJ Jacobsen +29.777s
9. Ratthapark Wilairot +53.463s
10. Dominic Schmitter +54.266s
13. Matt Davies (AUS) +1m10.889

Supersport championship standings:
1. Michael van der Mark 205
2. Jules Cluzel 132
3. Florian Marino 120
4. Lorenzo Zanetti 103
5. Kev Coghlan 98
6. PJ Jacobsen 95
7. Roberto Rolfo 87
8. Kenan Sofuoglu 86
9. Raffaele De Rosa 67
10. Roberto Tamburini 63

Click here for detailed results