BMW MOTORRAD ITALIA GOLDBET SBK TEAM - BRNO - RACE

The BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet Superbike Team has finished round nine of the World Superbike Championship at the Brno's Automotodrom with Michel Fabrizio eighth and tenth in  the two races. Unfortunately Ayrton Badovini couldn't take part in race one and, due to his fitness problems after yesterday’s accident, could not finish race two. Sylvain Barrier, who was taken out by another rider, didn’t finish the Superstock 1000 race andLorenzo Baroni was forced to an early retirement due to a sore left forearm muscle.

In race one Michel Fabrizio had a difficult start and crossed the line 12th at the end of lap one. As the race progressed and the track started to dry Michel was able to make the most of the slick tyres, and at times was the fastest rider on track. He finished the race eighth.Ayrton Badovini, despite being declared fit to race after the big crash in yesterday's Superpole, was forced to go back to the pits as he couldn’t see properly because of problems with his contact lenses.

Michel Fabrizio, who had a good start from eighth in race two, was eager to stay with the front runners and overtook some riders so managing to stay with the leading pack. Lack of grip early in the race meant he wasn’t able to ride at his best so rode defensively and finished the race in tenth. Ayrton Badovini took part in race two despite his physical condition.  Starting from 12th on the grid he maintained a good pace for the first few laps until on lap six his vision blurred and he was forced to retire.

Both races were won by Marco Melandri, who achieved his first double victory for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team in World Superbikes. Thanks to the two wins, the Italian rider now has 250.5 points and has reduced the gap to the leader to 21 points. BMW is also now leading the manufacturers’ standings with 292 points.

In the Superstock 1000 race, held in wet conditions, Sylvain Barrier crashed at turn seven on lap four through no fault of his own when another rider tried to overtake him. Lorenzo Baroni had to retire at the end of lap seven due to a sore right forearm muscle.

Serafino Foti, BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet Superbike Team Sporting Director, said: "We were not expecting such a difficult Sunday. The Superstock 1000 race was a disaster, as both riders didn't make it to the chequered flag. On the Superbike side, Ayrton's week-end was compromised by his heavy crash in Superpole, and the consequences of this didn't allow him to finish race two. We were expecting a bit more from Michel as this is his favourite track, but the bad start in race one and a tyre issue in race two meant he was not in a position to get a better result."

Michel Fabrizio #84 - Gara 1 8th Gara 2 10th: "Today didn't go as expected. I didn't get a good start in race one, but as the race went on my pace was very good and I was able to make up some positions and finish eighth. I got off from the grid well in race two, but unfortunately after some laps I suffered a lack of grip and so I couldn't match the lap times from practice and qualifying."

Ayrton Badovini #86 - Gara 1 DNS Gara 2 RET : "It was not an easy weekend, even though it started in a perfect way. After the Superpole crash the tables were turned and today it was tough for my fitness. A question of pure bad luck didn't let me take part in race one. I hoped I could do better in race two, but after six or seven laps my vision blurred and I was forced to retire. The goal now is to get back to full fitness and to be competitive at Silverstone.

“I would like to thank my team, who have been formidable in building up the bike almost from scratch, Vincenzo Tota and the Clinica Mobile for getting me in the right physical condition to try and race, and the riders who helped me on track immediately after the accident and the ones who came to ask me how I was".

Race 1 1- Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 41’59.808 2- Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) + 1.360 3- Loris Baz (Kawasaki) + 1.948 7- Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) + 11.293 8- Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team) + 11.945 DNS - Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team)

Race 2 1- Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) 40’12.837 2- Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) + 0.140 3- Carlos Checa (Ducati) + 6.801 7- Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) + 12.547 10- Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team) + 25.332 RET- Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team) 

Superstock 1000 Race 01- Bryan Staring (Kawasaki) 27’22.582 2- Eddi La Marra (Ducati) + 6.577 3- Jeremy Guarnoni (Kawasaki) + 32.390 RET- Lorenzo Baroni (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team) DNF- Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet SBK Team)