After a difficult Sunday, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team bounced back in Race 2 at Misano Adriatico (Italy) with a masterful win by Marco Melandri. The Italian rider, who crashed out yesterday during the last lap while fighting for the win, mounted a spectacular comeback from 10th position on the grid to take his maiden victory with the Panigale R and his 20th overall in WorldSBK.
Declared unfit for Race 2 due to a fracture of the transverse process of L3 (3rd lumbar vertebra) and a contusion of the left thumb caused by a crash in Race 1, Chaz Davies watched the race from the pits after being discharged from the hospital. The Welshman will now observe a period of rest with the intention to be back on track for the eighth round of the season, scheduled for July 7-9 at Laguna Seca (U.S.).
After seven rounds, Davies and Melandri are respectively third (185 points) and fourth (163 points) in the championship.
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #33) – 1st
“This win means so much to me. It’s my first with Ducati and first on Italian soil but also the 100th by an Italian rider in WorldSBK. It’s the result of a lot of efforts, a composed attitude during some difficult moments, and great teamwork. We never stopped to believe in ourselves, and this result is a payback for all the sacrifices. We made a small change to our setup this morning, and before the start I was sure I could have a go at it. During the race, I tried to manage my pace and, once I took the lead, to ride smoothly. I hope Chaz recovers soon, he had a nasty crash but fortunately without serious injuries. I hope to be able to fight for another win, this time with him on track as well, at Laguna Seca.”
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7)
“It’s never ideal to be at the track and not be able to race, but it’s good to come to support and honestly I’m happy to be here because it could have been a lot worse. I don’t feel 100 percent, so we’ll focus on recovering in the upcoming days. Tomorrow I’ll visit a specialist and we’ll set a plan based on his recommendations. The goal is be back at Laguna Seca.”
Stefano Cecconi, Aruba S.p.A. CEO & Team Principal
“After a terrible Saturday, it was important to get back on the right track as soon as possible. Today we put to fruition our potential, which was clear yesterday as well. Marco’s win is particularly important, because it’s his first with the team and the first in a long time by an Italian rider on an Italian bike. It was good to have Chaz with us, despite the pain, and we hope he recovers quickly to come back in full shape and join the action at Laguna Seca.”
