David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) extended his FIM Sportbike World Championship lead after a stunning final-lap fight at the iconic Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, pipping Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse) by just 0.039s at the line. Fenton Seabright (PHR Performance Triumph) celebrated his 24th birthday with a podium finish at the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round.
BIG GROUP FIGHTING FOR THE WIN
As the lights went out, it soon became a seven-rider scrap for victory at Misano as the lead riders pulled out a gap over the chasing pack. Heading onto Lap 4, Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse) took the lead of the race on the Yamaha R7, although at the start of Lap 5, David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) hit the front. Elia Bartolini (CM Triumph Factory Racing) was in the lead group, but he crashed at Turn 14 from the podium places, ending his hopes of a home victory. On Lap 7, Salvador hit the front by passing Thompson at Turn 8, but the #50 was able to stay close to the Spanish rider and got ahead at Curvone. Turn 11 appeared to be the only place the #50 could make the move, with Salvador often getting ahead at Turn 8 under braking and Thompson responding at Curvone. However, on Lap 10, Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) took the lead at La Quercia corner, Turn 8, and but Salvador was able to respond immediately. The pair switched positions over Lap 10, and again on Lap 11, before a last lap shootout decided the win. Salvador pulled off a stunning move to claim victory ahead of Thompson by just 0.039s, ahead of Fenton Seabright (PHR Performance Triumph) in third; the #73 celebrated his 24th birthday in style with a podium.
MISSING OUT ON A ROSTRUM
Antonio Torres (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) fought with teammate Salvador at Turn 8 on the final lap, with the pair almost making contact but both staying up right; the #47 finished in fourth. Bianchi had been in the podium places heading into the final two laps but got shuffled down the order, eventually finishing in P5 to cap off a stunning debut weekend for the wildcard rider. Artigas had led in the latter stages of the race but was wide at Turns 9 and 10, dropping him down the order. He finished in sixth.
INSIDE THE TOP TEN
Jeffrey Buis (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) closed the gap to the lead group to finish in P7, just a second away from victory, while Matteo Vannucci (Revo-M2) was eighth at the end of the race after he started from 11th. Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) claimed ninth place, just 1.523s away from victory, showing how close the field was in Race 2 at Misano. Pepe Osuna (Deza-Box 77 Racing Team) completed the top ten.
RETIRING FROM RACE 2
Race 1 winner Bruno Ieraci (CM Triumph Factory Racing) was immediately out of contention after he crashed out at Turn 3 on the opening lap. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) and Thomas Benetti (MMR) crashed out at Turn 13 on Lap 2, with the incident to be investigated by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards. Veneman was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following the crash. On Lap 4, Gonzalo Sanchez (ARCO Yamaha MotoR University Team) crashed at Turn 13 but he was able to rejoin. Czech rider Troy Sovicka (Panattoni BGR Smrz Racing) was another faller, he came down on Lap 7 at Turn 14. Humberto Maier (Yamaha MS Racing FIMLA AD78) and Benat Fernandez (Kove Racing Team 109) both crashed in the closing stages, in separate incidents, and retired from the race.
The top six from WorldSPB Race 2, full results here:
- David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI)
2. Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse) +0.039s
3. Fenton Seabright (PHR Performance Triumph) +0.148s
4. Antonio Torres (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) +0.772s
5. Filippo Bianchi (Team MMP Velocita) +0.942s
6. Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) +1.055s
Fastest Lap: Matteo Vannucci (Aprilia) 1’42.697s
Championship Standings
1. David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) 164 points
2. Antonio Torres (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) 137
3. Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) 128
4. Jeffrey Buis (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) 106
5. Matteo Vannucci (Revo-M2) 98
6. Carter Thompson (Team BrCorse) 93
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