Emotions ran high in the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship paddock during the Pirelli Estoril Round as Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) left the team he had been with for seven years with a stunning Race 2 victory at the Circuito Estoril. Take a look at his top five of his 28 Ducati wins, the brand that Davies raced for from 2014 onwards. He finished runner-up in the Championship in 2015, 2017 and 2018 whilst in 2020, despite his imminent departure, he helped them to the Teams’ Championship, beating Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK.

5.) The only win of 2019: Laguna Seca 2019, Race 2

Ducati claimed 17 victories in the 2019 WorldSBK season but rookie Alvaro Bautista claimed 16 of these as he mounted an early-season title challenge. Davies would take his only win of the year at Laguna Seca in Race 2, more than a year since his last win, as he beat Rea by just over three seconds. A stunning return to the top for a 30^th career win, doing Ducati proud in the final race to-date in the USA.

4.) Rivalries reignited with a last lap battle: Aragon 2017, Race 2

Two years on from their epic Sepang duel and Rea and Davies were at it again as they battled it out around MotorLand Aragon on the last lap for Race 2 victory. This was even sweeter than beating a rival for Davies, though, as he bounced back from a Race 1 crash on the penultimate lap to stand on the top step of the rostrum. A thrilling Turn 15 showdown where Rea attempted to pass but ran wide, Davies enjoyed a run to home and a first win of the season.

3.) An emotional farewell: Estoril 2020, Race 2

It was announced before the Estoril Round that Davies would be leaving the factory Ducati team as Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team GOELEVEN) would arrive for 2021. Davies was able to claim two wins in 2020 with the final one coming in his final race for the team as he signed off in perfect fashion, leading from Lap 2 all the way to the end; emotions ran high in Parc Ferme.

2.) First victory for Ducati and the Panigale R machine: Aragon 2015, Race 2

In 2013, Ducati brought a new machine to the grid, the Panigale R and Davies secured the first win for the new bike at Aragon in 2015, a year after he joined the returning full factory team, as he held off the challenge from Rea at the Spanish circuit having being beaten in Race 1 on the last lap. The Panigale would take five wins in 2015, all in the Davies’ hands, as he showed the potential of the bike. Little did we know what a successful partnership was about to form…

1.) The start of a new rivalry: Sepang 2015, Race 2

Race 2 of the Malaysian Round in 2015 went down to the wire in a battle between Davies and Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea as the pair collided at the final corner on the final lap. Rea had looked to overtake Davies around the outside of the left-hander hairpin, but Davies moved back to the inside and let the brakes off, with the pair clashing at the apex. Both stayed on their bike and engaged in a drag race to the line, with Davies coming out on top, denying Jonathan Rea an early Championship party; from that day, there’s been no love lost between the two.

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