[WSBK] Race 2 in Argentina: 70th victory for Johnny Rea, broken leg for Florian Marino

It is with his usual mastery and brilliance that four-time World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) won this Saturday, at the Circuito San Juan Villicum, his ninth consecutive victory – equaling the record held by Neil Hodgson and Colin Edwards- ahead of Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). The latter, a Turkish private driver for Manuel Puccetti's Italian team, stood out while we were logically expecting the drivers fighting for second place in the Championship (Chaz Davies with 335 points, Michael van der Mark with 317 and Tom Sykes with 283). But none of these three men reached the podium.

For the second race this Sunday, the front row was made up of Xavi Forés (Barni Racing Team), Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). In second we found the two teammates Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) and Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) as well as our national Loris Baz (Gulf Althea BMW Racing Team). The third row included yesterday's podium: Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). Florian Marino (Triple M Honda World Superbike Team) who finished in 11th position on Saturday, started 15th. It was Eugene Laverty's 150th start in World Superbike. Breaking news: Baz was condemned to move back 3 positions on the grid due to irresponsible driving during warm up.

With 24° for the air and 52° for the track, the fastest at the start was Xavi Fores ahead of Eugene Laverty, Toprak Razgatlioglu, Michael van der Mark, Johnny Rea, Alex Lowes, Chaz Davies, Marco Melandri and Tom Sykes. Van der Mark, caught in a stampede, dropped back to seventh position. Eugene Laverty fell without gravity. Johnny Rea found himself sixth and Loris Baz twelfth, while the unfortunate Florian Marino retired after a fall (fractured left tibia and fibula).

Fores retained the lead ahead of Razgatlioglu, Rea, Lowes, Davies, Melandri and van der Mark. Fores, leader, set the best lap of the race in 1'39.853, which allowed him to accumulate a nice lead of 2.7 over Rea and Razgatlioglu, followed at 4.7 by Melandri, Lowes, Davies, van der Mark, Savadori and Sykes already at 6.6 after the first 4 rounds.

Rea attacked and quickly came back to 1.3 behind Fores. Razgatlioglu was third at 2.8. There was then a big gap to fourth place Davies at 5.6, followed by Lowes, van der Mark, Melandri, Savadori and Sykes. Loris Baz was riding twelfth at 11.1.

Rea caught up with Fores 14 laps from the end and passed him, then the Spaniard overtook the Northern Irishman. But Rea regained first position ahead of Fores, with Razgatlioglu third at 2.8, ahead of Davies at 4.7, and Melandri fifth at 7.2 ahead of Lowes, Sykes, Savadori, Gagne, van der Mark, Mercado and Baz.

At the halfway mark, Rea dominated with an advantage of 1.8 over Fores, 4.9 over Razgatlioglu, 6.8 over Davies and 7.7 over Melandri. Sykes after 11 rounds was seventh at 9.8 battling with Alex Lowes.

Loris Baz took eleventh place hard from local hero Leandro Mercado, which moderately delighted the spectators. Marco Melandri fifth attacked his teammate Chaz Davies.

Johnny Rea finally got rid of any hint of opposition by setting the best lap in 1'39.807. Fores was relegated to 3.5, while Davies, Melandri and Razgatlioglu competed for third place on the podium at 7.1. The Turk and his private Kawasaki had difficulty following the two official Panigales. Melandri overtook Davies for third position. Razgatlioglu could not follow the two Ducatis, and had to be wary of the return of Tom Sykes who came back 0.9 behind him. There were then among the first 6 3 Kawasaki and 3 Ducati.

If Johnny Rea won with a comfortable lead, Fores managed to preserve his second place in the face of the return of Melandri and Davies. Sykes finally overcame the resistance of Razgatlioglu, who could stand no more and was even overtaken by Lowes, finishing just ahead of Savadori and van der Mark. Loris Baz ranked eleventh.

Race 2 results:

Provisional ranking of the World Championship:

Final events in Doha, Qatar Friday 26 and Saturday 27 October

Photos © worldsbk.com / Dorna