Biaggi Wins, Takes World Superbike Points Lead
Cycle News Staff | September 9, 2012
Aprilia’s Max Biaggi took over the World Superbike Championship lead while leading an Aprilia sweep of the podium in the first of two races at the Nurburgring in Germany.
Aprilia’s Eugene Laverty finished second and ParkinGO MTC Racing’s Chaz Davies was third.
Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes was in the lead from the start, with Biaggi in second and BMW’s Marco Melandri in third. Then Melandri crashed on the sixth lap, handing Biaggi the opportunity to make the most of it, which he did. The crash also moved Laverty up to third and Davies to fourth.
Sykes began to slow on the 12th lap with a rear tire issue-he chose the softer option Pirelli-allowing Biaggi to pass. Three laps later, Laverty and Davies also made their way by and the podium order was set.
Biaggi won by 3.027 seconds, while Laverty and Davies battled to the flag. Laverty got the nod by a tenth of a second.The podium was Davies’ second in a row.
Biaggi’s fifth win of the season, combined with Melandri’s DNF, gives the Roman the lead by 6.5 points. Biaggi has 315 to 308.5 for Melandri with five races remaining.
Sykes settled into a secure fourth with FIXI Crescent Suzuki’s Leon Camier fifth.
Camier’s teammate, John Hopkins, finished 13th.
World Superbike Results:
1. Max Biaggi (Aprilia)
2. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia)
3. Chaz Davies (Aprilia)
4. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki)
5. Leon Camier (Suzuki)
6. Sylvain Guintoli (Ducati)
7. Leon Haslam (BMW)
8. Lorenzo Zanetti (Ducati)
9. Ayrton Badovini (BMW)
10. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda)
13. John Hopkins (Suzuki)
