WSBK: Race Results for Race 1 at Imola

Round 2 of the 2012 World Superbike Championship comes from Imola today, and features six manufacturers in the top seven qualifying positions. With weather conditions favorable for racing, Italian motorcycle fans were treated to a great competition between the WSBK riders. Favored to win was the man on the local machine, Carlos Checa, but he would have to contest with pole-sitter Tom Sykes and his Kawasaki ZX-10R. Also always a crowd favorite in Italy is former-WSBK Champion Max Biaggi, who qualified a disappointing fifth, but still could not be counted out from a good result. Continue reading for spoilers and race results from World Superbike Race 1 at Imola.

Taking the holeshot as the lights went out, Tom Sykes was able to convert is pole-position start into an immediate race result, and lead Carlos Checa, Max Biaggi, and Sylvain Guintoli through the first turns. The order would be short-lived though, as Guintoli and Leon Haslam would dice things up, with the Englishman running wide going into Imola’s chicane, forcing both riders to cut across the gravel. As Guintoli re-entered the race track, his Effenbert Ducati high-sided, which sent both the Italian and Anglo-American John Hopkins into the tarmac and the opposing run-off.

As the race continued on, Skyes and Checa pulled away from the rest of the field. With Sykes leading, the reigning World Superbike Champion bided his time until the middle of the race to get around the Kawasaki rider. Riding to a comfortable victory, Carlos Checa added another notch to his belt, while Sykes finished an impressive second. Battling to the end, Haslam would overcome Biaggi for the final spot on the podium for Race 1 at Imola.

Race Results from World Superbike Race 1 at Imola, Italy:

Source: WSBK