Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha) ran out the winner of the 17–lap WorldSSP race at Chang International Circuit by just 0.048 seconds, after clashing hard with second placed Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) on the exit of the final corner.
Krummenacher, Mahias, Thai WSBK 2018
A five-rider group constituted the leading train for most of the race, all on Yamahas, with Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) finally taking third place and Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing Yamaha) fourth.
One time race leader Jules Cluzel (NRT Yamaha) fell after losing the front, and could not restart to keep it a five way fight for the final podium places.
The first non-Yamaha rider home was Thitipong Warokorn (Core Kawasaki Thailand Racing Team), who had qualified eighth, but finished fifth. Anthony West (EAB antwest Racing Kawasaki) ran hard to sixth place, 11.4 seconds down on the winner.
West, Thai WSBK 2018
Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag) placed seventh, with another wild card, Ratthapong Wilairot (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) eighth.
Top Honda rider was Niki Tuuli (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) who finished ninth, with British rider Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing Triumph) tenth on the leading Daytona. Jack Kennedy (Profile Racing Triumph) was 12th.
Aussie Ted Collins (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) placed 22nd, but Lachlan Epis (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) did not finish.
In the championship standings, Krummenacher and Mahias share 45 points in the overall lead. Krummenacher set a final new lap record of 1’37.620, with the previous best beaten several times in the race.
By Gordon Ritchie
Photos Gngpix
Krummenacher, WSS600 race, Thai WSBK 2018