2011 Hannspree World SuperBike Championship Round 2, Donington Park, Europe, March 27th Race Report

  MELANDRI AND CHECA SHARE THE SPOILS AT DONINGTON PARK

Yamaha WSBK Team rider Marco Melandri and Althea Ducati's Carlos Checa both took a race win for round two of the World Superbike Championship at Donington Park in the UK. In front of 51,000 spectators rookie Marco Melandri came from ninth of the grid to take his maiden win in the opening race a head of Effenbert-Liberty Racing Ducati's Jakub Smrz with Althea Ducati rider Carlos Checa in third. After making a mistake in the first which resulted in pole position rider Carlos Checa finish third, race two saw the dominate Spaniard take victory from lights to flag a head of race one winner Melandri while Leon Camier gave the home fans something to celebrate by crossing the finish in third aboard his Alitalia Aprilia machine.

Race One . After just three races Marco Melandri joined the elite of race winners after taking his maiden victory, after beating Effenbert-Liberty Ducati's Jakub Smrz by 2.455 seconds. The last podium place went to Althea Ducati rider Carlos Checa who passed local hero BMW Motorrad rider Leon Haslam with two corners to go. Castrol Honda's Johnathan Rea scored fifth with PATA Aprilia's Nori Haga just getting the better of the factory Aprilia's of world champion Max Biaggi and Leon Camier. Veteran BMW Motorrad rider Troy Corser secured ninth with a stunning display from rookie Kawasaki rider Joan Lascorz in tenth.

Race Two. Carlos Checa won the second superbike race of the day from lights to flag to win by nearly four seconds a head of race one winner Marco Melandri, who upped the pace from Leon Camier who took the final place on the podium to the delight of the British crowd. The other Leon took fourth for a second time today with Kawasaki's Joan Lascorz taking a great fifth despite not being at full fitness. Castrol Honda's Johnathan Rea took sixth with Alstare Suzuki rider Michel Fabrizio who retired from race one managed to salvage seventh. Effenbert-Liberty Ducati's Jakub Smrz scored eighth with BMW Italia Ayrton Badovini and Castrol Honda's Ruben Xaus rounding out the top ten.

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Luca Scassa secured his second consectutive World Supersport Championship victory as he led a ParkinGO Yamaha 1-2 at Donington Park. The Italian led from lights to flag after resisting race long attentions from Chaz Davies to secure Yamaha thier first 1-2 since 2007. Step Racing Honda rider Gino Rea was the second Brit to make it onto the podium in third. The other to British riders Parkalgar Honda's Sam Lowes and PTR Bogdanka Honda's James Ellisson both had to retire due to mechanical problems whilst running up the front.