With similar conditions to Race 1, Race 2 began under the Californian blue skies that make Laguna Seca such a special venue. After a restart following a red flag, Althea BMW riders Jordi Torres and Raffaele De Rosa both came home in the points, with Torres in a well-fought P6 and rookie De Rosa just outside the top ten.

With a six-bike train from P4 down headed by Nicky Hayden and Xavi Forés, the mid-field battle just off the podium was a battle royale, with Torres eventually coming home behind American legend Hayden, just outside the top 5. De Rosa, in only his second WorldSBK Race as he subbed for injured Markus Reiterberger, kept the bike on the 3.6km challenging Californian track to score a good haul of points in his first Race weekend – and goes into the summer break safe in the knowledge that he will re-start on track activity at Lausitzring as points leader in STK1000.

“Today’s race was quite different to yesterday’s and we were more competitive,” said Torres. “We modified the bike set-up overnight and by doing so we were able to understand a great deal during the race, collecting data that will be useful in the next races. I’m happier today, though I know I need to be a little more aggressive if I want to make those passes… Anyway, we’ll continue to work over the summer break to be well prepared for the final phase of the season.”

“I’m pleased because, after yesterday’s outcome, today I was able to finish the race and earn some points,” said De Rosa after his first weekend in WorldSBK. “I was happy with the first part of the race and felt I rode well through the first 12 laps or so. I’m not used to doing so many laps, compared to the STK1000 races, and so in the later stages I lost some ground to West and Ramos ahead of me, finishing eleventh. All in all, I’m satisfied, particularly with today which went better than Friday and Saturday.”

Both riders now enjoy the summer break, before Germany beckons and the Althea team push for another solid result at the home of manufacturer BMW.