It was not only a good day for Aprilia—which dominated the podium in Race One, and the top two spots in Race Two—but also a day for the British Commonwealth at the Nurburgring round of the World Superbike Championship, as British (and Northern Irish) riders took the lion’s share of the top finishing positions in both races. ParkinGO Aprilia’s Chaz Davies garnered his maiden win in Race Two after another podium finish in third in Race One. It was also a day of wild swings in fortune for the two major protagonists in the title chase, as Max Biaggi retook the points lead by taking advantage of a rare double DNF by previous points leader Marco Melandri, who sensationally crashed out of both races.
Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes powered off from his second spot on the grid to take the lead in Race One, followed by Biaggi and Melandri, the latter lucky not to get slapped with a penalty after nearly jumping the start. The twisty Nurburgring circuit quickly began to claim numerous riders, as Carlos Checa crashed out of fifth place after losing the front on lap two, followed a few turns later by Honda World Superbike’s Jonathan Rea, and then Checa’s Althea Racing Ducati teammate Davide Giugliano on lap six.
With Sykes and Biaggi beginning to pull a gap, Melandri was charging hard to close it back up when it all came undone on lap six, as he lost the rear in the Nurburgring hairpin and crashed, with the frustrated Italian unable to get back into the race. Biaggi’s crew quickly informed him of his World Superbike title rival’s demise, and the Aprilia rider looked to be settled in behind Sykes for the race’s duration. But then Sykes ran into tire troubles after his soft option rear selection proved unwise, forcing the Kawasaki rider to begin slowing his pace. Biaggi took advantage, as did Aprilia teammate Eugene Laverty and Davies for an all-Aprilia podium; Sykes held on for fourth ahead of a rapidly closing Leon Camier on his FIXI Crescent Suzuki.
The stage was set for a dramatic duel between Biaggi and Melandri in Race Two, and those dramatics began on the first lap—with Biaggi crashing in the chicane while sitting in third after Laverty had run off the track in front of him. Luckily he kept the Aprilia’s engine running, and picked up the bike to rejoin the race some ways behind the pack. Meanwhile, Sykes inherited a lead that would soon deteriorate as tire issues once again plagued the Kawasaki rider. Melandri soon went past, as did Davies a lap later, and it looked as if Melandri was going to retake the World Superbike points lead with a comfortable gap over Davies. But everything went pear-shaped for Melandri on lap eight as he hit the ground in turn 11, and once again was unable to rejoin the race, suffering the indignity of a double DNF for the Nurburgring weekend.
Davies, who was also announced as the new teammate to Melandri in the BMW World Superbike team for 2013, went on to win the race comfortably over Laverty, with Camier coming through to make it an all-British Commonwealth podium. Rea finished fourth, with Sykes holding on to finish fifth and close the points gap to the Biaggi/Melandri battle with two events (and four races) left in the season.
World Superbike Nurburgring Race 1 results:
1. Max Biaggi (ITA) Aprilia
2. Eugene Laverty (IRL) Aprilia
3. Chaz Davies (GBR) Aprilia
4. Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki
5. Leon Camier (GBR) Suzuki
6. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Ducati
7. Leon Haslam (GBR) BMW
8. Lorenzo Zanetti (ITA) Ducati
9. Ayrton Badovini (ITA) BMW
10. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Honda
13. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki
World Superbike Nurburgring Race 2 results:
1. Chaz Davies (GBR) Aprilia
2. Eugene Laverty (IRL) Aprilia
3. Leon Camier (GBR) Suzuki
4. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Honda
5. Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki
6. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati
7. Davide Giugliano (ITA) Ducati
8. Loris Baz (FRA) Kawasaki
9. Ayrton Badovini (ITA) BMW
10. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Ducati
12. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki
World Superbike Championship points standings:
1. Max Biaggi (ITA) Aprilia 318
2. Marco Melandri (ITA) BMW 308.5
3. Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki 291.5
4. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati 247.5
5. Jonathan Rea (GBR) Honda 225.5
6. Eugene Laverty (IRL) Aprilia 213.5
7. Leon Haslam (GBR) BMW 189
8. Chaz Davies (GBR) Aprilia 156.5
9. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Ducati 143.5
10. Davide Giugliano (ITA) Ducati 125