British rider Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) sealed the 2013 Superbike World Championship overnight at the Jerez circuit in Spain, after a sensational season haul of nine race wins and eight superpoles, 18 podiums and 13 fastest laps.
The 28 year old rider from Huddersfield England delivered a solid race one on his Kawasaki ZX-10R to finish in a safe third and seal the title, before finishing second in race two. His Jerez results bring his podium tally for the season to 18 and his championships point tally to 447 to win the crown.
Aprilia rider Eugene Laverty took two victories at Jerez, his ninth race win of the season, and finished second in the title chase, 23 points behind Sykes, on 424 points. Aprilia rider, Sylvain Guintoli was third on 402 points,
Sykes win was particularly sweet for Kawasaki, a long twenty years after their last world crown, won by Scott Russell in 1993.
Sykes knew that at Jerez, the test track of most of his rivals, he would have his work cut out to win but he also knew that he did not have to take race victories to take the championship title and walked away content with a third and second place.
He also took the new lap record at Jerez today with a 1’41.691 in race two, his 13th fastest lap of the season. Sykes also led for 255 laps over the whole season, more than twice the total of the next best rider.
The championship win was particularly sweet for the entire Kawasaki Racing Team as they missed out on the title with Sykes by only half a point in 2012.
Race one – Eugene Laverty wins race one as Tom Sykes clinches the title
Tom Sykes of the Kawasaki Racing Team clinched the 2013 FIM Superbike World Championship in race one of the Jerez round, with his third place good enough to and seal his first ever world title. It was Sykes’ fifth year of racing in the world championship, and his victory brings the title back to Kawasaki after 20 long years – the last one dated back to 1993 and was won by Scott Russell.
Today’s first race was won by Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) after a superb final lap overtake on Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrrad GoldBet), on the outside, at the last turn. The two riders pulled away in the early laps, with Laverty leader for most of race until the penultimate tour, when the Italian passed the Irishman at turn six. Thanks to Laverty’s win, Aprilia retains the manufacturers’ title.
Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) finished a lonely fourth, ahead of Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia) and Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia), both unable to repeat on the race distance the competitive lap-times set in free practice and qualifying. Race one’s top ten was completed by Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Xavi Fores (Team Ducati Alstare) and Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini Kawasaki).
Results – Race 1
1. Eugene Laverty IRL Aprilia Racing RSV4 36m 00.919s
2. Marco Melandri ITA BMW GoldBet S1000RR HP4 +0.218s
3. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +6.681s
4. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Aprilia Racing RSV4 +9.327s\
5. Toni Elias ESP Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 +20.446s
6. Davide Giugliano ITA Althea Racing RSV4 +27.633s
7. Chaz Davies GBR BMW GoldBet S1000RR HP4 +28.621s
8. Leon Camier GBR Fixi Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +29.548s
9. Xavi Fores ESP Alstare Ducati 1199 R +29.964s
10. Mark Aitchison AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +36.981s
11. Jules Cluzel FRA Fixi Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +37.008s
12. Sylvain Barrier FRA BMW GoldBet S1000RR HP4 +43.179s
13. Ayrton Badovini ITA Alstare Ducati 1199 R +47.260s
14. Max Neukirchner GER MR Ducati 1199 R +52.154s
15. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA Mesaroli Ducati 1098 R +52.912s
16. Federico Sandi ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +54.414s
17. Michel Fabrizio ITA Pata Honda CBR1000RR +1m 02.109s
18. Broc Parkes AUS YART Yamaha YZF-R1 +1m 02.568s
19. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Grillini Dentalmatic BMW S1000RR +6 laps
Not Classified
20. Leon Haslam GBR Pata Honda CBR1000RR 13 laps completed
Race 2 – Laverty takes the double while Sykes settles for second as world champion
After sealing the world title, Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes gathered his concentration to lead for 13 laps of the 21 lap battle, before Irishman, Eugene Laverty aboard the Aprilia, overtook the new world champion to claim his second double-win of the season and his ninth race victory – the same number of season wins as Sykes.
Tom Sykes: “Words cannot describe how I feel. I am very level headed but since Magny-Cours there are moments where my mind started dreaming. When I was dreaming I had goose bumps and it was magical to even dream I could be world champion. But that was maybe 2% of what I am feeling now after winning the title. It was good for the championship that it got decided at the final round again, especially here with these great fans. My team is mostly Spanish so it is a home round for them. The championship win has not fully sunk in yet but it will do soon, I’m sure.”
Eugene Laverty: “Two wins that came in different ways, as the second one was kind of easier because I was able to pull away from Tom once I got passed him. I’m happy with this double-win that extended our podium streak in the final part of the season. It’s a shame that we lost some points early on in the year, but I’m not the type of guy who likes to make excuses. Second place overall is a great result, as well as the Manufacturers’ title.”
Other works Aprilia rider Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) completed the podium by crossing the line a lonely third, ahead of Toni Elias (Red Devils Aprilia), Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) and Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki).
Lorenzo Lanzi (Mesaroli A.S. Ducati) finished his weekend on a positive note as he ended up 7th, followed by Jules Cluzel (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) and Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia). Local Xavi Forés (Team Ducati Alstare) crashed out of Turn 1 right after the start of the race, due to a collision with another rider, while Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) did not line up on the grid due to the injured ankle that bothered him in the first race.
Results – Race 2
1. Eugene Laverty IRL Aprilia Racing RSV4 21 laps
2. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +2.711s
3. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Aprilia Racing RSV4 +5.710s
4. Toni Elias ESP Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 +15.509s
5. Chaz Davies GBR BMW GoldBet S1000RR HP4 +21.830s
6. Leon Camier GBR Fixi Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +26.558s
7. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA Mesaroli Ducati 1098 R +30.840s
8. Jules Cluzel FRA Fixi Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +33.056s
9. Mark Aitchison AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +36.299s
10. Davide Giugliano ITA Althea Racing RSV4 +40.867s
11. Max Neukirchner GER MR Ducati 1199 R +44.308s
12. Broc Parkes AUS YART Yamaha YZF-R1 +52.483s
13. Sylvain Barrier FRA BMW GoldBet S1000RR HP4 +53.674s
14. Michel Fabrizio ITA Pata Honda CBR1000RR +1m 20.316s
15. Federico Sandi ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +3 laps
Not Classified
16. Leon Haslam GBR Pata Honda CBR1000RR 4 laps completed
17. Ayrton Badovini ITA Alstare Ducati 1199 R 2 laps completed
18. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA Grillini Dentalmatic BMW S1000RR 0 laps completed
19. Xavi Fores ESP Alstare Ducati 1199 R 0 laps completed
Marco Melandri ITA BMW GoldBet S1000RR HP4
Final championship standings
1. Sykes 447; 2. Laverty 424; 3. Guintoli 402; 4. Melandri 359; 5. Davies 290; 6. Giugliano 211; 7. Fabrizio 188; 8. Baz 180; 9. Rea 176; 10. Cluzel 175; 11. Camier 132; 12. Badovini 130; 13. Haslam 91; 14. Neukirchner 91; 15. Checa 80; 16. Elias 70; 17. Sandi 55; 18. Aitchison 46; 19. Iannuzzo 27; 20. Lanzi 23; 21. Salom 22; 22. Clementi 18; 23. Philippe 13; 24. Canepa 12; 25. Lai 11; 26. Pirro 10; 27. Lundh 10; 28. Hayden 8; 29. Young 8; 30. Fores 7; 31. Barrier 7; 32. Reiterberger 7; 33. Allerton 6; 34. Uprak 5; 35. Parkes 4; 36. Smrz 4; 37. Stauffer 4; 38. Ercelik 3; 39. Eslick 2; 40. Akiyoshi 2; 41. Haga 2.
Manufacturers: Aprilia 550; 2. Kawasaki 501; 3. BMW 443; 4. Suzuki 243; 5. Honda 236; 6. Ducati 185; 7. Yamaha 8.
World Supersport
Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) put the icing on the cake of his title-winning season by crossing the line victorious after the 20-lap World Supersport final race of 2013. The Englishman had his last, successful battle, with Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki): the Turk did his best to keep the lead after several overtaking manoeuvres, but Lowes managed to pass him once more, with two laps to go, and pulled away for the win.
Roberto Rolfo (ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse) had the better of Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport) for third, whilst other Pata Honda rider Lorenzo Zanetti ended up fifth with a 23-second gap from the winner. Riccardo Russo (Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) edged Kev Coghlan (DMC-Lorenzini Kawasaki) to finish in sixth place and Sheridan Morais (PTR Honda) did the same on Vladimir Leonov (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) for eighth position.
Results
1. Sam Lowes GBR Yakhnich Yamaha YZF-R6 34m 59.865s
2. Kenan Sofuoglu TUR Mahi India Kawasaki ZX-6R +2.117s
3. Roberto Rolfo ITA ParkinGO MV Agusta F3 +7.966s
4. Michael van der Mark NED Pata Honda CBR600RR +9.714s
5. Lorenzo Zanetti ITA Pata Honda CBR600RR +23.643s
6. Riccardo Russo ITA Puccetti Kawasaki ZX-6R +25.234s
7. Kev Coghlan RUS DMC Lorenzini Kawasaki ZX-6R +25.427s
8. Sheridan Morais ITA Go Eleven Kawasaki ZX-6R +27.025s
9. Vladimir Leonov RUS Yakhnich Yamaha YZF-R6 +27.173s
10. Fabien Foret FRA Mahi India Kawasaki ZX-6R +29.371s
11. Danny Webb GBR PTR Honda CBR600RR +32.277s
12. Roberto Tamburini ITA Lorini Honda CBR600RR +34.439s
13. David Salom ESP Intermoto PonyExpres Kawasaki ZX-6R +34.585s
14. Mathew Scholtz RSA Suriano Suzuki GSX-R600 +36.110s
15. Marco Faccani ITA SMA Italian Jr Honda CBR600RR +37.103s
16. Jack Kennedy IRL RivaMoto Honda CBR600RR +39.034s
17. Massimo Roccoli ITA Pata by Martini Yamaha YZF-R6 +42.803s
18. Matthieu Lagrive FRA Intermoto PonyExpres Kawasaki ZX-6R +52.351s
19. Luca Marconi ITA PTR Honda CBR600RR +58.324s
20. Lee Johnston GBR PTR Honda CBR600RR +1m 03.289s
21. Raffaele de Rosa ITA Lorini Honda CBR600RR +1m 11.570s
22. Nacho Calero Perez ESP PTR Honda CBR600RR +1m 12.202s
23. Alex Schacht DEN Team Toth Honda CBR600RR +1m 12.271s
24. Imre Toth HUN Team Toth Honda CBR600RR +1m 14.230s
25. Cory Alexander USA PTR Honda CBR600RR +1m 15.656s
26. Brodie Waters AUS AARK Triumph Daytona 675 +1m 22.838s
Final Standings:
1. Lowes 250; 2. Sofuoglu 201; 3. Foret 140; 4. Vd Mark 130; 5. Zanetti 119; 6. Rolfo 78; 7. Kennedy 76; 8. Scassa 75; 9. Coghlan 71; 10. Leonov 63; 11. Antonelli 55; 12. Morais 55; 13. Marino 53; 14. Russo 48; 15. Iddon 45; etc.
Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 270; 2. Yamaha 258; 3. Honda 165; 4. MV Agusta 104; 5. Suzuki 38; 6. Triumph 6.
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