Chaz Davies romped to his first World Superbike victory in 26 races after a dominant display in race two at Aragon. The Welshman also gave Ducati’s Panigale R machine its first ever World Superbike win after leading from start to finish ahead of Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam.
Despite starting from the outside of the front row, Davies grabbed the holeshot at turn one after a lightning getaway and soon opened up a comfortable lead over Rea in second place. Haslam slotted into third with Tom Sykes also in close attendance but the 2013 champion took himself out of contention in dramatic fashion with a horrible highside exiting turn fifteen. The Yorkshireman wasn’t the only big name in trouble with reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli also seeing his race end early after the front end of his PATA Honda washed out at turn fourteen.
Davies was untroubled by the drama and extended his lead to 3.2s by the chequered flag with Rea holding off his closest title rival Leon Haslam to finish second, matching his worst result of the season so far. Jordi Torres’ wait for a maiden WSBK podium goes on after the home favourite finished fourth for the fourth time in six races while Xavi Fores went one better than his race one result, finishing a lonely fifth.
David Salom and Leandro Mercado both claimed career-best results in sixth and respectively with Michael van der Mark salvaging eight points for PATA Honda in eighth after an entertaining scrap with Ayrton Badovini who was forced to settle for ninth.
