With Tom Sykes finishing the first race of the Lausitzring weekend in second place, and his team-mate Jonathan Rea crashing out after finding a false neutral in the entry to a turn, it was a day of diverging fortunes for the official Kawasaki WorldSBK riders.

Early in the 21-lap first race Sykes was sitting second and Rea third on their Ninja ZX-10Rs, having started second and sixth on the grid respectively. Rea had to qualify out of Superpole 1 in order to join the top 12 riders in the second Superpole contest, but did so with ease and ended up in a second row starting position.

A dry race unfolded after a wet track surface had welcomed the riders in the final free practice session, and Superpole 1, earlier in the day. As Sykes set about trying to keep pace with runaway race winner Chaz Davies, Rea was settling into his rhythm behind.

Sykes held a good pace to the end to make sure he kept second place from a closing Nicky Hayden but a gearchange issue on lap seven saw Rea run wide on corner entry, at turn ten, and then crash out as his bike re-engaged gear, suddenly regaining rear traction.

With Rea and Sykes 1-2 in the championship before the Lausitzring weekend had begun they enter the second and final day in the same order, but with Rea’s points advantage now reduced to 26.

In the Manufacturers’ Championship Kawasaki still has a very healthy leading advantage, now set at 90 points.

One more 21-lap race will take place on Sunday 18th, again at 13.00 CET, before the championship heads to France for the 11th round at Magny Cours in early October.

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情报提供元 [ Kawasaki Motors Europe N.V. ]