WSBK: Monza Race 2 Results – Attack of the Pigeons

Race 2 proved to be a less hectic event without a red flag in sight. With the race being won by a comfortable margin, the World Superbike season is shaping up to be a good close one.

Ben Spies took a comfortable victory in Race 2 of the World Superbike Championship at Monza, despite hitting birds going through the woods. The Texan went into the first corner in 2nd place, behind Noriyuki Haga, who also hit a flock of pigeons exiting the Curva Grande. This held the Ducati rider up, and left him finishing the first lap down in 15th position. Haga would go on to crash out on the third lap at high speed through the Parabolica.

With Haga out of the way, Spies ran away  from the field, his lead getting up to over 5 seconds at one point, before easing off to ensure he didn’t run out of fuel like he did in race 1. Fabrizio spent all race trying to fend off the attentions of Ryuichi Kiyonari to take a 2nd place, the Japanese Ten Kate rider finishing in 3rd. 

Fabrizio and Kiyonari battled it out almost the entire race and Kiyonari passed the Ducati Xerox rider on lap 7 with Jonathan Rea and Max Biaggi closing fast, but an error on lap 10 made Biaggi loose contact with the group leaving the British rider with fourth and the Aprilia rider fifth. Tom Sykes was sixth and Leon Haslam, seventh after starting 17th on the grid. The battle for 8th saw Jakub Smrz with his satellite Ducati get the best of Ruben Xaus, Carlos Checa, and Regis Laconi. Troy Corser after his crash in Race 1 did not start Race 2.

Race Results from Race 2 of the World Superbike Championship at Monza, Italy: