After the glorious weather we have been experiencing lately it was perhaps inevitable that the WSB race would be threatened by rain! The riders lined up on the grid under dark clouds, then completed a sighting lap before re-forming and waiting as weather delayed the start...
Eventually a shortened 17-lap race was decided upon with all the riders starting on slicks. With rain very much in the air, pole man Laverty led the way from Rea and Baz with Sykes and Davis close behind. A third of the race had gone when Sykes took the lead from Laverty, but there was still a whole gaggle of riders fighting for the win when the rain started to fall again.
A win and the fourth was a great result for Rea
As in Moscow it was a case of who blinked first on swapping to wets or, more precisely, who was prepared to brave it out on slicks. The rain was reducing in its ferocity, so slicks looked like the way forward.
Ex-motocross rider Jonathan Rea isn't afraid of a bike moving around and he took over the lead from Sykes with fearless Baz behind and a cautious Guintoli in third. But down the field Haslam and birthday boy Camier were looking very fast in the treacherous conditions. With the rain still falling, the final few laps promised to throw up a few surprises.
With Rea clear in the lead, the podium fight over the last few laps was an absolute cracker with Laverty, Guintoli, Baz, Camier, Cluzel and Haslam all in the scrap. Eventually Laverty got the better of Camier but it was great seeing Leon back on the podium and looking happy on the Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Race two was dry so the smart money was on Sykes for the win, especially after a good start. However just six laps down the white flags were out again, signifying a bit of rain in the air. Good news for Baz at the front, but less good news for his team mate Sykes who was quickly swallowed up by the chasing pack.
Leon Haslam recorded a seventh and a DNF
By mid-race Chaz Davies was battling for the lead with Baz, Camier and Cluzel while Sykes was back in seventh as the rain started to fall.
Rain certainly provides some great racing. With six riders all in with a shot of taking the win, the last five laps demonstrated why WSB is so popular with race fans. Well, apart from Welsh BMW fans that saw Davies' chances disappear in a cloud of smoke...
A very wet last two laps saw Cluzel crash out before a huge highside by Leon Haslam brought out a much needed red flag with Baz awarded the win, Cluzel second on count back and Laverty third.
Supersport was a two horse race between Sofuoglu and Sam Lowes as they made the rest of the field look mediocre. Having shadowed Sofuoglu the whole race, the two riders collided on the last lap, leaving the Turk to win and amazingly Sam remounted to keep second spot. Honourable mentions must go to Kev Coghlan in fourth, Christian Iddon in fifth and Jack Kennedy in Seventh. A great race for the Brits, although Sam deserved the win!
Race one:
1. Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike)
2. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team)
3. Leon Camier (Suzuki)
Race two:
1. Loris Baz (KawasakiRacing Team)
2. Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki)
3. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team)
Championship places
1 Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) - 262
2 Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) - 249
3 Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) - 226
Brit watch (race one/two)
Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) - 2/3
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) - 11/7
Leon Camier (Suzuki) - 3/5
Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) - 7/DNF
Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) - 1/4
Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) - 10/DNF