Lowes Wins After Smash And Grab Behind

An astoundingly unpredictable second race at Brno saw Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK) score his first ever WorldSBK race win, after a front-running show for much of the 18-lap race in hot conditions.

Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK) was second and unable to keep the final pace of Lowes. Chaz Davies(Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was third, after many of the other top riders made surprise exits or errors.

The shock early sector of the race started off with some of the top names finding themselves in deep trouble. Jonathan Rea (KRT) fell before the race had got into its full swing, on lap three, losing the back and sliding off gently at turn 12, after what appeared to be contact between himself and his own team-mate Tom Sykes, as they tussled for track position. Rea was unable to restart despite some frantic efforts.

Shortly afterwards Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) ran on into turn three and finally regained the track dead last.

Then it was Sykes’ turn to fall, as he lost his rear end in a lowside crash, restarting like Melandri, but sitting in 17^th place, racing for that position with Melandri for a time.

Out front, the two Pata Yamaha machines of Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark led the race, with Davies working his way to third.

Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) was fourth, nearly ten seconds down, with his team-mate Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) fifth.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba Racing IT Ducati Junior Team) was sixth, one place up on Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team).

Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) placed eighth and the top Kawasaki rider was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in ninth place. Román Ramos (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) scored tenth, with Jake Gagne (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) 12^th, just behind Loris Baz (GULF ALTHEA BMW Racing Team).

PJ Jacobsen (TripleM Honda World Superbike Team) was 13^th.

Melandri got a point for 15^th, but Sykes was 16^th and no-scored like his team-mate Rea.

In the championship, Rea has 270 points, Davies 205 – now 65 behind – VDM has 196 and Sykes 179.

By Gordon Ritchie