Weather conditions were difficult for the Misano WorldSBK 1 race this afternoon and after a delay due to sudden but brief rain, it was Pata Yamaha WorldSBK rider Alex Lowes who took the lead when the race finally got underway…
But let's go back. The Pata Yamaha rider, Michael van der Mark, played no role in today's proceedings, following a serious impact in FP2, in which he suffered a concussion, a fractured trapezius and radius in his right arm and two fractured ribs on his side. right. The winner of the Jerez race remained in Rimini hospital overnight as a precaution but was released. Van der Mark will undergo surgery on his fractured radius early next week, after which doctors will be able to better assess the time needed to recover.
In its absence, it is Sandra Cortese who started by standing out today, with an impressive performance in Superpole which allowed him to qualify in second position, riding the GRT Yamaha R1. Alex Lowes qualified on the fourth row while Marco Melandri et Loris Baz were expecting a tough race after qualifying 13th and 16th on the grid.
Rain disruptions meant that WorldSBK Race 1 finally started on the third attempt, Jonathan Rhea et alex lowes immediately moving away at the head of the race. Alex Lowes overshadowed the reigning world champion by taking the lead and accumulating a lead of more than a second, until the 28-year-old Briton was surprised by a puddle at the inside of turn 11 and must retire from the heat.
Meanwhile, Loris Baz had managed to make his way through the peloton, passing the two Yamaha GRT riders who were vying for a place in a group of six riders, and provisionally placing in fifth place behind Leon Haslam et Álvaro Bautista. When Haslam retired, the Frenchman tried to catch Bautista for the final podium, but failed to keep up with the Spaniard on a drying track, having to settle for a very good fourth place for his second participation with the R1 of the Ten Kate Yamaha Supported WorldSBK.
Loris Baz (Ten Kate Yamaha Supported WorldSBK) – P4: “Four weeks ago the team was still building the bike and everyone had done 14 races, while we hadn't finished a lap, so it feels good to finish fourth here today. I'm really happy with the result but also the progress we've made in understanding the bike in the dry. I was mad at myself for crashing in Superpole this morning, but it was a cool race. When Haslam fell, I pushed very hard to catch Bautista for the final podium, but the track started to dry up, he was able to increase his pace and it was not possible to catch up with him. I'm really happy with the result and say a big thank you to all the guys on the team for their hard work. “
Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha Supported WorldSBK) – P6: “It was a very, very difficult day, both in the dry and in the wet. I never had the feeling I was looking for with the bike, especially at the maximum lean angle. During the race I made a mistake early on trying to brake later to stay with the group, but the pace just wasn't there today. Tough conditions, a tough race and a tough situation. Tomorrow we will start the sprint race from the back because of the Jerez penalty, so I have nothing to lose. Top nine is the goal, but I suspect it won't be easy. “
Sandra Cortese (GRT Yamaha Supported WorldSBK) – P7: “It was a very difficult race because the conditions were very difficult. This was a completely new situation for us as we had never raced this bike in the rain. So it was a fairly quick learning curve for the team and the driver. This meant that we were not in a position to fight for the top places, but the aim was to finish the race with as many points as possible and that is what we did. Of course, I'm not completely satisfied with finishing seventh after qualifying second on the grid, but I think we have a good day ahead of us tomorrow, with two races in which we can build on what, overall, has been a pretty positive start today. “
alex lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK – Abandonment: “ I felt good in the wet conditions this morning and the bike was working well. During the race, I waited behind Jonathan because the 18 lap race is a long wet race and I didn't want to wear out the soft compound rear tire. There was a lot of water on the track and at one point I had trouble seeing through the splash thrown up by Jonathan's bike, so I passed him and managed to make a small gap. I felt strong and didn't slip at all, which is sometimes worse because it builds confidence. When I came into turn 11, I could see that there was a lot more water on the track than in previous laps. I tried to brake a little more before entering but lost the rear while aquaplaning and it was over. Sorry for the team and for Yamaha, there was a victory or at worst a podium on offer, and it's a shame to end like that today.