WSBK, Jerez, Race 3: First victory for Michael van der Mark and Yamaha of the season

It was not clear who could prevent Álvaro Bautista from making the three at home in Spain. The interest of the show was focused on the fight between the Yamahas of Michael van der Mark, Alex Lowes and Marco Melandri against the Kawasaki of Jonathan Rea.

The first row of the starting grid included Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK), then in second we found Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team ) and Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Next in third were Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing), Jordi Torres (Team Pedercini Racing) and Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK).

The progression of Loris Baz continued rather uneasily, with his withdrawal at the start of Race 2 due to a problem with the fuel supply which forced him to withdraw. Fortunately, he started this Race 3 in fifteenth position on the grid. He said on Saturday evening: “ We continue to familiarize ourselves with this bike, adjust the electronics, in particular the engine brake so that it suits me more, and try to find the right chassis setup. We were aware that these races would allow us to understand a lot of things. I can't get the bike to turn the way I want and I lose the front a lot in the fast sectors. In seeking stability under braking, we sacrificed agility. We must continue to work this Sunday and collect information ».

According to Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), “ I'm looking forward to being in Jerez, which changes the landscape and the temperature a bit from the last few races, because it's very hot. In Jerez, in the past, I had mixed results, but I still managed to achieve a few victories over the years, it's a track on which I know I can do well. I hope we can start after Imola, where we were very strong, and continue to improve the Panigale V4 R in these different types of tracks ". Race 1 at Jerez was Chaz Davies' 190th WorldSBK start and Race 2 was his 140th start for Ducati. Sixth place on the starting grid is Davies' lucky charm, it is from this position that he has won three victories on the Spanish track. The last six winners at Jerez are all British: Davies (3), Rea (2) and Sykes (1). Five times out of six, the winner of the first race scores the double. This was true for Raymond Roche in 1990, Laverty in 2013, Melandri in 2014, Davies in 2016 and Rea in 2017.

According to the former Supersport World Champion Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha Supported WorldSBK) « In Misano we managed to test a lot of things that we don't have time to try during a race weekend and it was a good opportunity to regain my confidence after a difficult weekend in Imola. Here in Jerez I am convinced that we can forget the disappointment of Imola and be competitive again ».

Deserved victory for van der Mark and Yamaha

With an air temperature of 24° and surface temperature of 52° (source Pirelli), the fastest to set off in front of 27 spectators when the lights went out was Marco Melandri ahead of Álvaro Bautista, Michael van der Mark , Johnny Rea, Tom Sykes and Toprak Razgatlioglu. Alex Lowes fell for the third time this weekend in three races. He left last.

Bautista then took the lead without surprise, ahead of van der Mark, Melandri and Razgatlioglu. Suddenly Álvaro Bautista fell for the first time this year in the race, while Rea took command. Bautista left 18th and last.

Rea was trying to break away with van der Mark stuck to his rear wheel and Toprak Razgatlioglu third ahead of Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri. Loris Baz was twelfth, while Bautista retired at the Ducati pit.

Rea and van der Mark continued their great battle for the lead, but Razgatlioglu, Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri were only a second away. Suddenly Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies fell, the Italian hitting the Briton somewhat (without seriousness).

While van der Mark overtook Rea for the lead, Baz entered the top 10.

Van der Mark and his Yamaha found themselves alone in the lead with the two Kawasakis of Rea and Razgatlioglu. Rea set the fastest lap of the race in 1'40.134. Toprak Razgatlioglu third had difficulty following, quickly losing 3 seconds, and seemed to be content with the third step of the podium with 3 seconds ahead of Haslam and Rinaldi (first Ducati rider).

Rea set a new best race time of 1'39.876. Loris Baz moved up to ninth, 12 seconds behind leader van der Mark. Michael Ruben Rinaldi brilliantly defended Ducati's honor by snatching fourth place from Leon Haslam. It was valuable points for Ducati in the manufacturers' standings, after the retirement of its two official riders.

With 7 laps to go, van der Mark still dominated Rea, ahead of Razgatlioglu alone in third, then in the fight for fourth position Rinaldi, Cortese, Haslam Sykes and Torres.

Michael van der Mark increased his lead to over two seconds over Johnny Rea in the very final laps, with Razgatlioglu third at 7 seconds, and the group battling for fourth place at 12.7, including Rinaldi, Haslam, Cortese, Sykes and Torres, a few lengths ahead of Loris Baz in ninth.

Ryuichi Kiyonari fell without seriousness in Turn 11 while he was, like everyone else, in the points.

With 2 laps remaining, the race was stopped at the red flag and van der Mark won ahead of Rea, Razgatlioglu, Rinaldi, Haslam, Cortese, Sykes, Torres and Baz.

Ranking of Race 3:

Provisional ranking of the World Championship:

Photos © worldsbk.com / Dorna, manufacturers and teams