[WSBK] Race 2 at Misano: Remarkable resistance from Michael van der Mark to Jonathan Rea

Johnny Rea not only dominated and won Saturday's race, he crushed it. Chaz Davies, who had only qualified seventh, took the second step of the podium, leaving third to his brother-in-law Eugene Laverty who was deprived of second place by a small mistake. Michael van der Mark saved Yamaha's honor with fourth position, ahead of Tom Sykes who was increasingly in distress (although starting from pole position). Loris Baz, from whom a miracle was expected due to his departure from the second row, fell in the first round.

For the second race, van der Mark started from pole, alongside Sykes and Fores. The second line included Melandri, Savadori and Camier, and the third Laverty, Davies and Rea. Baz was tenth on the fourth row. Note that Niccolo Canepa, in endurance with Christophe Guyot, and as a test rider on the R1 Yamaha Motor Europe, finished twelfth in the first round and therefore started sixteenth in the second. In the Championship, Rea was 80 points ahead of Davies, with ten races remaining before the final checkered flag falls for the last time this year in Doha.

The fastest at the start was Xavi Fores who preceded Michael van der Mark, Tom Sykes, Marco Melandri, Lorenzo Savadori and Jonathan Rea. On the second lap, Chaz Davies, who started moderately, overtook Johnny Rea to take fifth position from him. At the front, Fores held off van der Mark, Sykes and Melandri. Loris Baz was in eleventh place and Niccolo Canepa in eighteenth.

Leader Xavi Fores retired at the side of the track due to a technical problem. Van der Mark took the lead ahead of Sykes, Melandri, Davies, Rea, Lowes, Savadori, Laverty and Baz. Johnny Rea attacked Chaz Davies and took fourth place from him. Marco Melandri did the same against Tom Sykes and moved into second position ahead of the Englishman.

Rea set the best time since the start of the race in 1'35.253 and he clearly threatened his teammate Tom Sykes. He overtook him with 16 laps to go and moved into third behind van der Mark and Melandri. Baz was ninth and Canepa fifteenth.

Michael van der Mark opened up a gap of more than a second on Johnny Rea, now second, ahead of Marco Melandri, Chaz Davies and Tom Sykes. At the halfway mark, van der Mark had a lead of 1.2 over Rea, 1.8 over Melandri, 2.5 over Davies and 3.1 over Sykes. Johnny Rea gave his all and improved the best lap to 1'34.944. He thus closed to 0.9 of van der Mark. The gap gradually decreased, and the Kawasaki was 0.5 behind the Yamaha with 8 laps to go to the checkered flag.

The junction took place two laps later and it was difficult to see van der Mark resisting Rea until the finish. The Dutchman defended bravely, and Rea struggled to find the opening. Van der Mark closed the doors well, which Marco Melandri took advantage of to get closer just behind the two men 5 laps from the checkered flag. Chaz Davies was a solitary fourth at 2.1 and Tom Sykes fifth at 4.1.

Rea attacked van der Mark more and more urgently, and he managed to overtake him with 3 laps remaining, just in front of Marco Melandri. Rea opened up a small gap in front of the Dutchman and the Italian who were now battling each other.

Jonathan Rea finally won by 0.3 ahead of Michael van der Mark and Marco Melandri, while Chaz Davies finished fourth ahead of Tom Sykes. Loris Baz finished ninth and Niccolo Canepa thirteenth.

Race 2 results:

Provisional ranking of the World Championship:

Next race of the World Championship: Portimao on September 15

Photos © worldsbk.com / Dorna