Photography courtesy Palmeto PL Kawasaki
American Kenny Noyes (Palmeto PL Kawasaki) rode the race of his life at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, Valencia, and emerged at the end of the 19 laps as FIM CEV SBK International Superbike Champion. He went into the ninth and final round trailing former Spanish Champion Ivan (BMW) by four points and needing either win or finish second ahead of Silva.
Starting fourth off the second row, Noyes got the holeshot and, with Venezuelan teammate Robertino Pietri in his slipstream, opened slight gap over Morales and Silva, but on lap three they both got past the Venezuelan and closed on the leader. On lap seven Morales when into the lead and Silva slipped under Noyes out of Turn 2 but the American dived under Silva at Turn 6 and tucked in behind the new leader.
Once the gap over Silva had grown to a just over a second, Noyes slowed his paces slightly, but then Noyes lost some valuable time finding his way past a lapped rider and Silva was suddenly only .4 back. With five laps remaining Noyes upped the pace and not only pulled clear of the BMW rider, he also closed on Morales and looked set to make a move when Silva lost the front on the entrance to turn four at the start of lap 17.
The Palmeto PL team quickly got the board and informed Noyes that his only rival had crashed. He then slowed and cruised home to take the title. Pietri was third, giving Palmeto PL not only the title but also two podium places.
“My strategy from the beginning was to push as hard as I could on the opening laps and try and get some distance between me and Silva,” Noyes said. “The opening push was enough to do that. When Morales came by, I thought that would be OK because it is good to have a wheel to follow at Valencia, but when Silva slipped under me out of turn 3, I realized I had to pass him back immediately and push again. When I saw on my board that I had 1.1 seconds over Silva, I slowed just a bit, but on the next lap I saw he had closed to .8 and then I had some trouble with a lapped rider and my board told me he was just .4 back. I made a second hard push and in three laps I was back with Morales and had put Silva over a second back. I was starting to think about making a move on Morales, but with two laps to go, my board said Silva was out. I had to take a long look back to believe it and I saw beautiful empty track!
“I didn´t think I could do a whole race in the 35´s. But that´s what it took today.”
Silva went down pushing hard and it was the only time all year he´s failed to score.
“He pushed us hard and was fighting right to the end,” Noyes concluded. “I´m so grateful to the team, to Kawasaki and to Michelin for all the work they put in, and it was great to be on the podium with Robertino again. That made it ever more special for Palmeto PL.”
This was the first year for the new FIM CEV Repsol Superbike International Championship.
CEV Repsol Superbike International Championship Race Result, Valenica, Spain – Nov. 16, 2014
1. Morales (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
2. Noyes (USA) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
3. Pietri (Venezuela) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
4. Ramos (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
5. Rodriguez (Spain) Suzuki GSX1000-R
6. Plassen (Norway) Ducati 1198
7. Martinez (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
8. Rivas (Spain) BMW R1000SS
9. Pouhair (France) BMW R1000SS
10.Llano (Spain) Kawasaki ZX1000-R
Final Championship Standings
1. Noyes 160 , 2. Morales 145, 3. Silva 144, Pietri 125, Barragan 123, Rivas 113, Rodriguez 71, 8. Ferrer 53, 9. Kuperinen 44, 10. Gomez 43.
