SBK, Davies' eighth wonder at Jerez

Who knows if the Aruba Ducati camp had ever imagined such a decisive and convincing season finale for Chaz Davies, the new undisputed Borgo Panigale ace in SBK… the men in red most likely dreamed of a streak like this and now the Welsh rider, with his eighth 2016 win, is the rider in the best form in his category.

A comeback start, great overtaking, perfect trajectories and a pace that no one else could maintain: Chaz rode a perfect race, one that he and the team had set up intentionally so that the best performance would come from the mid-race point on: “now the bike is really mine. On each lap I could feel the Panigale’s every least reaction. I am pleased because I think my team is the best in the world - said a very happy Davies - they really believe in me. It is difficult to make up all those points on Rea now, but next year…”

The number 7 Ducati rider’s unfinished sentence is simple to figure out: with a bike that is finally dialled in, with such a complete and definitive feeling, the 2017 world championship title is the Welshman’s objective. For this year, the crashes had a heavy impact on the final outcome, but the season is not over yet…

Tom Sykes and Johnny Rea picked up the crumbs, albeit significant ones, of the podium and, with these two placements, the factory Kawasaki team (also) puts the manufacturer title trophy in their trophy case. The continuity that the two riders demonstrated, finishing consistently in the top position, made the difference against all the rest.

It was a good race for the Honda duo, with Nicky Hayden and Michael Van Der Mark just behind the podium spots. Guintoli rode his Yamaha to an uneventful sixth place and Camier finished seventh astride his MV Agusta. Behind the Englishman, three BMW riders finished. Alex De Angelis was eleventh under the chequered flag and Lorenzo Savadori thirteenth. The two Aprilia RSV4 machines did not perform as the two riders had hoped. Davide Giugliano had also hoped for a good race, but a crash took him out of the mix in the beginning phases. 

Overall Standings: Rea 442, Sykes 398, Davies 370