Sykes clinches the title

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) is the new eni FIM Superbike World Champion. The 28 year old from Huddersfield, England, rode a smart race and crossed the line in third place, a result that allowed him to clinch his first-ever World Title, in his fifth year of racing in the series. Sykes also 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 6. 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. The Top-10 for Race 1 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: 1. Laverty (Aprilia) 21 Laps/92.820 km in 36'00.919 average 154.634 kph; 2. Melandri (BMW) 0.218; 3. Sykes (Kawasaki) 6.681; 4. Guintoli(Aprilia) 9.327; 5. Elias (Aprilia) 20.446; 6. Giugliano (Aprilia) 27.633; 7. Davies (BMW) 28.621; 8. Camier (Suzuki) 29.548; 9. Fores (Ducati) 29.964; 10. Aitchison (Kawasaki) 36.981; 11. Cluzel (Suzuki) 37.008; 12. Barrier (BMW) 43.179; 13. Badovini (Ducati) 47.260; 14. Neukirchner (Ducati) 52.154;15. Lanzi (Ducati) 52.912; 16. Sandi (Kawasaki) 54.414; 17. Fabrizio (Honda) 1'02.109; 18. Parkes (Yamaha) 1'02.568; 19. Iannuzzo (BMW) 6 Laps; RT. Haslam (Honda). Superstock 1000 Jeremy Guarnoni has scored a dominant win in the last race of the season for the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup at Jerez, the second in a row for the Frenchman after the one achieved on home soil two weeks ago. The MRS Kawasaki rider pulled away in the early laps to cross the line with a 4.3 seconds over Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini Kawasaki). Results: 1. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 13 Laps/57.460 km in 22'54.088 average 150.541 kph; 2. Mercado (Kawasaki) 4.315; 3. Lanusse (Kawasaki) 11.354; 4. Andreozzi (Kawasaki) 11.700; 5. Reiterberger (BMW) 11.760; 6. Calia (Ducati) 13.658; 7. Canepa (Ducati) 13.952; 8. Lussiana (Kawasaki) 14.833; 9. Jezek (Ducati) 16.285; 10. Bussolotti (BMW) 16.678; 11. Massei (Honda) 17.300; 12. Gildenhuys (BMW) 17.429; 13. Ponsson (Kawasaki) 19.776; 14. Grotzkyj G. (Kawasaki) 23.816; 15. Kuparinen (BMW) 32.702; etc. Final Standings: 1. Barrier 178; 2. Canepa 154; 3. Guarnoni 153; 4. Mercado 146; 5. Savadori 98; 6. Jezek 88; 7. La Marra 85; 8. Lanusse76; 9. Andreozzi 64; 10. Bussolotti 61; 11. Lussiana 59; 12. Massei 41; 13. Bergman 31; 14. Gildenhuys 31; 15. Ponsson 22; etc. 1. Manufacturers: 1. BMW 200; 2. Kawasaki 198; 3. Ducati 176; 4. Honda 43; 5. Suzuki 5.