Running battle goes the way of Melandri
Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) posted an impressive win in the first race at Brno after he had worked his way through from a mid-pack position in a race that started with many wet patches on the circuit, but finished in blazing sunshine. Long time leader Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) finished second and his team-mate Loris Baz third, the first podium place for the teenage French rider.
Any chance Sykes had of getting back at Melandri for the win was dashed when he and Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) collided entering a corner near the end of the race and Rea crashed out spectacularly.
Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) was fourth and Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing) fifth, with Max Biaggi a distant sixth on his Aprilia Racing machine.
