The United States of America’s Chris Clark took a resounding victory in the second FIM Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup race of the weekend at Donington Park, as the Championship battle was blown wide open after a dramatic ten lap encounter.
Championship leader Xarly Mendez (Dominican Republic) had built a healthy lead ahead of the third round of the Championship, but heads into the second half of the season with just a three-point advantage after a coming together on the second lap of the race with Japan’s Riichi Takahira.
Clark was in the leading group throughout, but was handed an advantage at the front when further drama ensued behind at the halfway point, leaving the American out on his own with a healthy gap to maintain over the chasing pack. Keeping his head down, Clark was able to maintain the advantage to cross the line 1.4 seconds ahead of team-mate and race one victor Angelo Mottola (Italy) to take his first victory of the season.
Mottola, who moves into second in the standings after an exemplary 1-2 weekend, was overjoyed to take second place, while Emanuele Pastore (Italy) also gained advantage on the final lap when Alessandro Binder (Switzerland) crashed out at the final turn to take third, and move up to second in the standings.
Rintaro Takamoto (Japan) took fifth ahead of a career-best result for Nathan Bettencourt (USA) with Indy Schunselaar (Netherlands) sixth. Leonardo Marques (Brazil) was seventh ahead of Aymon Bocanegra of Brazil, who had entered the weekend second in the standings and leaves the weekend fourth overall. Ruggero Berti (Italy) was ninth with Heitor Santana (Brazil) rounding out the top ten.
With the season now at its halfway point, just three rounds remain – Magny Cours, France, Cremona, Italy and Estoril, Portugal – and just three points separate Mendez, Pastore and Mottola at the top of the Championship standings.
Race 2 Results
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On his win, Clark said: “This is an amazing feeling! I still have no idea what happened behind me, but I am glad I was able to finish in first. I hope the guys who crashed were OK, but it was a good round for me with second yesterday and the win today, and a good round for the whole Panattoni BGR Smrz Racing team.”