Source: Supplied.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took an excellent victory in race two at France’s 11th round of the Motul FIM World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK), seizing control in the opening stages and not looking back from there to eventually cross the line three seconds ahead of the nearest challenger.

Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) stormed to second, while his Yamaha colleague Michael van der Mark claimed third after the pair engaged in a thrilling battle.

Coming from 11th on the grid, Davies charged through the field to register his 27th WorldSBK win in tricky conditions as rain fell sporadically over the 4.411km Magny-Cours circuit during the race.

Behind him Lowes and Van der Mark contested second place and the Englishman ultimately beat his Dutch teammate by 1.55s after an intriguing duel between the Yamaha duo.

Xavi Fores (BARNI Racing Team) crossed the line fourth, followed by fifth placed Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati).

Leandro Mercado (IODARacing), Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team), Roman Ramos (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) and Raffaele de Rosa (Althea BMW Racing Team) all featured in the top 10.

Early in the race Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) crashed at turn 16 and in the aftermath of his accident Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) appeared to clip Laverty’s Aprilia RSV4 RF. The newly crowned triple champion Rea then went back into pit lane and would retire from the race, whilst Laverty picked up his machine to finally finish the race 17th.

A technical problem at turn 15 for Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) ended his race at the halfway point, when the British rider was in contention for an elusive podium finish. Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) was an unfortunate last lap crasher. Australia’s Anthony West (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) concluded the day in 14th in his second race with the Kawasaki squad.

In WorldSSP, Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing) followed up on his first pole result on Saturday by winning the race by 0.875s from second placed Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team). The podium was completed by American rider PJ Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse).

Tuuli rode superbly on his Yamaha YZF R6 over the course of the 19-lap race in front of the French fans and although he came under pressure from fellow Yamaha-equipped rider Caricasulo in the final stages he held his nerve to take a career-first win in the series.

Jacobsen also performed well from ninth on the grid, making his way through the field for his third podium of the year on his MV Agusta – ultimately crossing the line 5.692s adrift of winner Tuuli.

Finishing the race in fourth place Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) moved to the top of the WorldSSP championship standings by nine points from the absent Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) with two rounds remaining. Aussie Lachlan Epis (Kawasaki) pushed through for 24th position.

In WorldSSP 300, Marc Garcia (Halcourier Racing) made a big step towards his title fight, as he took a stunning victory in the closing laps, while Alfonso Coppola (SK Racing) took second ahead of Robert Schotman (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP300 Team).

Australians STK1000 contenders Mike Jones (Ducati Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team) and Glenn Scott (Kawasaki) posted sixth and DNF results respectively.

The next round set to take place is scheduled for 20-22 October in Spain, marking the penultimate round of 2017 championship.