Marco Melandri and Max Biaggi have split the two World Superbike Races at Brno in the Czech Republic.
Melandri (Yamaha Word Superbike) took his third win of the year to lead his championship rivals Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) and Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) across the line in race one. The top three were covered by only 0.436 seconds after 20 hot laps.
At one stage Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstare) looked capable of catching the leading trio, but he slowed to take a safe and yet still impressive fourth. Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike) went from the front row to fifth. The man most on the move in the race was Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike) as he passed several riders to get up to sixth. Biaggi’s team-mate Leon Camier took seventh, with Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) eighth.
Biaggi and Melandri ended up deciding the race two result in a man-to-man duel, which went the way of the 2010 world champion. The margin of victory was only 0.222 seconds, with Melandri right behind his countryman but unable to pass Biaggi on the final few corners.
Checa once again was in a clear third place, with Fabrizio having a good race again and finishing fourth.
Laverty could not catch the top quartet, but was safe in a lonely fifth. Once again Badovini impressed the paddock with his prowess and he took sixth place, one ahead of official rider Haslam.
In the championship fight, Checa leads with 293 to Biaggi’s 263, with Melandri on 240. Laverty is fourth, with 168.
