Photography by Gold & Goose
Rain was falling as were the riders with a lap to go in World Superbike race two at Silverstone. The red flag flew and Loris Baz, the Kawasaki rider who had the best feel on a wet track, emerged the winner, scoring his first victory of the season. Second went to fellow Frenchman and Suzuki rider Jules Cluzel. Cluzel actually ended his race crashed on the pavement, but scoring reverted back a lap and he was credited with second. Eugene Laverty rounded out the podium finishers in the eventful race.
Conditions were again spotty light rain for race two at Silverstone. Laverty moved around the outside of race one winner Jonathan Rea in the first turn to take the early lead at the start, but he was quickly passed by Baz. For next few laps it was Baz, Laverty, Tom Sykes and Chaz Davies running up front.
Like in in the first race a drizzle started about six laps in and positions began to shuffle.
Baz extended his lead while Davies and Leon Camier began moving up in the tricky conditions. Sykes started going backwards, although not as dramatically as in race one.
By lap 10 it was Baz, Davies and Cluzel battling for the lead, with Camier closing fast on the lead group.
It then became an awesome four-rider battle for the lead with the crowd cheering on Camier when he moved to the point on lap 12. It went wrong for Camier a lap later. Cluzel got by him and a charging Sylvain Guintoli got in too hot in a turn and pushed Camier wide.
Baz reasserted himself and it was the two Frenchman running one and two late in the race with Laverty right there with them.
Davies dropped out of the race with a blown motor.
With two laps to go the rain started falling in earnest. That’s when Cluzel and Leon Haslam went down. Cluzel’s was a simple low-side, while Haslam suffered a hard highside. That’s when the red flags flew and Baz began his celebration.
Series leader Guintoli added another point to his series lead. It’s now up to 13 points over Sykes, who finished one position behind his series rival in seventh.
The series now moves to the Nürburgring in Germany on September 1.
Silverstone – FIM Superbike World Championship – Race 2
1. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 33’46.622
2. Jules Cluzel (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 33’47.231
3. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 33’47.491
4. Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 33’48.767
5. Leon Camier (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 33’48.851
6. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 33’48.996
7. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 33’52.413
8. Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 34’06.748
9. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 34’06.831
10. Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 34’07.251
11. Michel Fabrizio (Red Devils Roma) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 34’07.391
12. Max Neukirchner (MR-Racing) Ducati 1199 Panigale R 34’08.029
13. Federico Sandi (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 34’31.637
14. Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 34’32.560
15. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 34’32.658
16. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Grillini Dentalmatic SBK) BMW S1000 RR 35’08.829
RT. Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) Honda CBR1000RR 34’06.566
RT. Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK) BMW S1000 RR 29’33.669
