Melandri and Checa on top in Britain
Added on Sunday, March 27th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Melandri and Checa on top in Britain
An eventful duet of World Superbike races at Donington Park this afternoon saw Marco Melandri and Carlos Checa share the spoils.
Race one resulted in Melandri climbing to the top step of the podium, in only his third WSB outing, to claim opening race honours. As the first race of the day developed, it was Jakub Smrz who powered his Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing Ducati into an early lad, where he stayed for the majority of the outing.
As the race ticked down towards the chequered flag Smrz was forced to yield to a charging Melandri, as the Yamaha rider leapt into the lead and extended his advantage. Local rider Leon Haslam had been running in a strong third place, however lost out in the closing stages of this opening race to championship leader Carlos Checa.
Narrowly missing out on a podium Haslam crossed the line fourth, just ahead of fellow Brit Jonathan Rea. Noriyuki Haga wasn’t far behind in sixth, with reigning WSB Champion Max Biaggi close behind in seventh. A challenge for the remaining positions in the top ten saw the battle won by Leon Camier, with Troy Corser on his tail in ninth. Joan Lascorz completed the top ten, as Sylvain Guintoli just missed out in eleventh.
The opening adventure saw four cars forced into retirement due to various incidents, with fifteen cars available to sweep passed the chequered flag.
As the second race of the day came their way, it was Checa who carried on with his pace from the opening round, as he stormed into the lead from the early stages. Eager to extend his championship advantage, the Spaniard controlled the pace throughout this second outing, to cross the finish line in the most prominent of positions.
Behind, Melandri was able to continue with his good form, as he rocketed to a second place finish, despite immense pressure from young Brit Camier. Regardless of Camier’s best efforts, Melandri romped away in the closing stages to ensure he claimed second, leaving Camier to ;pick u thefnal podium spot.
Local Hero Haslam again took the chequered flag in fourth place, to further cement his strong pace for 2011 championship honours. Lascorz steered his Kawasaki Racing Team machine to fifth place by the end of the race, much to his delight. Rea again joined his fellow Brits in the top six with a sixth place finish, ahead of Michel Fabrizio. Fabrizio was abvle to secue a seventh place finish following a retirement last time out.
A change in fortune for the remaining top ten positions saw Smrz, Ayrton Badovini and Ruben Xaus each feature, in eighth, ninth and tenth place, respectively.
The sole retirement of this second race was Maxime Berger, whilst Biaggi was later disqualified. Checa now controls the championship with 91 points, ahead of Melandri on 72 points. The third round of the 2011 season will see the WSB series head to Assen on the 17th April, where Checa will be keen to hold onto his current title lead.
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