Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) led all the way to the finish of the first Misano WorldSBK race at Misano but on the final lap his constant shadow Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) attempted to pass, getting to within 0.090 seconds of his team-mate at the flag.
After a tough weekend to that point Michael van der Mark (Honda World Superbike Team) lifted his game, as other fell or ran wide, to take third place.
Despite being forced off track into the first chicane section Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) fought back from the back of the fleeing grid to finish fourth, adding to what was a race full of dramas behind the escaping podium trio.
Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) placed his BMW fifth, after starting from 12th place on the grid.
Markus Reiterberger (Althea BMW Racing Team) was sixth, riding on his own at the end, with Niccolo Canepa (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) seventh – 19 seconds down and just ahead of eighth place finisher Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse).
Top ten finisher Anthony West (Pedercini Racing Kawasaki) was up to fifth in the early laps but he had to give best to Roman Ramos (Team GOELEVEN Kawasaki) right at the end, who beat him for ninth place.
Josh Brookes (Milwaukee BMW) slotted in 11th, while Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) dropped from fourth place to an eventual 13th.
Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) tried an ambitions pass in the first corner that pushed Lorenzo Savadori (IodaRacing Team Aprilia) into a crash, and also put Davies and Camier off the track and playing catch-up. Fores finally suffered a technical and problem and retired. Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was another top rider in the wars – crashing, restarting and finishing 14th.
The second race takes place on Sunday.
