Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) started from the last place on the second row but ended up first in his recently assured normal fashion after disposing of the Kawasaki Racing Team pairing of second placed Tom Sykes and third place Jonathan Rea.
Rea had led, as had Sykes, but Davies made his overall set-up pay off with a front-running display that saw him finish 3.290 seconds up on Sykes.
Kawasaki became the Manufacturers’ Champions today but Rea will have to wait for at least Sunday to become champion himself, as he ended his day 44 points ahead of Sykes, and 72 ahead of Davies, with 75 possible for any rider who wins all three remaining races.
Behind the lead, Nicky Hayden rode most of the 20-laps in fourth place, with Michael van der Mark almost – but not quite – closing in at the end to take it from him.
In sixth place, Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) was a lonely runner in a race where many other top competitors fell by the wayside. Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) overtook Jordi Torres (Althea Racing BMW) for seventh, with Torres’ team-mate Markus Reiterberger ninth.
Josh Brookes (Milwaukee BMW) placed tenth in a race where Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) all crashed out early on. Anthony West (Pedercini Racing Kawasaki) crashed but restarted to score 14th place.
