The closest ever finish in the history of the Superbike World Championship came today at Magny-Cours when Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) ended the second race in fifth place and in doing so he ended up the season 0.5 points ahead of Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team).

Biaggi had fallen in the first eni FIM Superbike World Championship race of the day, leaving open a path of opportunity for Sykes and race one second place finisher Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport). With Melandri crashing out in spectacular style in race two it was down to Sykes to make the running and he did it in style after putting in his fourth race win of the year. Biaggi, receiving pit signals from his crew, had worked his way far enough forward to take the overall win and score his second SBK championship, adding to his 2010 season win, again for Aprilia.

Biaggi now has two world titles, 21 race wins, 70 podiums and five pole positions to his credit, and four 250GP titles to boot.

Max Biaggi:

“This is the fourth world championship out of six that I have won at the final race, I seem to like difficult challenges! The 2012 season went right down to the wire: we started well with a win at Phillip Island after totally renewing my team and we also had some difficult moments. We had to work hard to win the title, and maybe for this reason it’s even better. A big thanks to the Team, Aprilia and the Gruppo Piaggio, from President Colaninno to every factory worker, because my success is the result of the work of a great Italian company. Thanks also to my family, my fiancée and my two children, as well as Marino Laghi who is always present with me”.

In the final championship rankings in 2012, Biaggi has 358 points, Sykes 357.5 and Melandri 328.5. Aprilia also won the Manufacturers’ Championship today, by 23.5 points from BMW.

Race 1

An amazing penultimate race, held in wet conditions, saw early contender Biaggi fall on lap two and his two remaining championship rivals, Melandri and Sykes score podiums for second and third respectively. Guintoli continued his amazing form in privateer guise with a clear win, by over six seconds from Melandri and by over 16 seconds from Sykes. This was Guintoli’s third win of the year.

Sylvian Guintoli:

“What a race, It’s been a great weekend for me, obviously with a wet race I knew I had a big chance, then got into my rhythm. When Marco came past it woke me up and I found some extra pace and then managed to pass Tom. I’m really happy to win in France after this crazy season with lots of ups and downs.”

Race 2

Sykes did all he could in winning race two, impressively by 1.354 seconds despite pressure from behind for the whole race distance on a largely dry track. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) was second in the 23-lap race, with Guintoli third. Biaggi’s team-mate, Laverty was fourth in the race, but Melandri crashed out of contention. Maxime Berger made it a happy day for the French with fourth on his Red Devils Roma Ducati.

Tom Sykes:

It’s difficult to accept that half a point separates us in a full season, but that’s all credit to World Superbike and how close it is. Max did a great job, but for me and my season I’m very happy, everyone gave me a full package to do something with and this weekend I was very strong. Overall we had a pole position, circuit record, two podiums and I’d like to dedicate that to Joan Lascorz, I’ve had some help from him this weekend. To close 30 points on Biaggi was magical. Now we’re all signed and sealed for next year, hopefully we can deliver!”

World Superbikes – Magny Cours Race One Result

1. Guintoli (Ducati) 23 Laps/101.453 km in 44’06.299 average 138.016 kph;
2. Melandri (BMW) 6.127;
3. Sykes (Kawasaki) 16.595;
4. Berger(Ducati) 21.857;
5. Haslam (BMW) 25.149;
6. Badovini (BMW) 32.778;
7. Laverty (Aprilia) 34.311;
8. Giugliano (Ducati) 47.269;
9. Corti (Kawasaki) 49.720;
0. Baz (Kawasaki) 50.192;
11. Brignola (BMW) 1 Lap;
12. Fabrizio (BMW) 2 Laps;
13. Rea (Honda) 5 Laps; RT.
Camier (Suzuki); RT. Checa (Ducati); RT. Aoyama (Honda); RT. Zanetti (Ducati); RT. Biaggi (Aprilia); RT. Davies (Aprilia).

Fastest Lap: Guintoli in 1’53.143 average 140.350 kph.

Pole Position: Sykes in 1’36.950 average 163.792 kph.



World Superbikes – Magny Cours Race Two Result

1. Sykes (Kawasaki) 23 Laps/101.453 km in 38’15.725 average 159.092 kph;
2. Rea (Honda) 1.354;
3. Guintoli (Ducati) 2.393;
4. Laverty (Aprilia) 13.122;
5. Biaggi (Aprilia) 13.955;
6. Giugliano (Ducati) 18.229;
7. Checa (Ducati) 18.430;
8. Davies (Aprilia) 26.648;
9. Badovini (BMW) 33.809;
10. Camier (Suzuki) 37.217;
11. Berger (Ducati) 38.871;
12. Corti (Kawasaki) 55.714;
13. Zanetti (Ducati) 57.621;
14. Aoyama (Honda) 1’05.487;
15. Brignola(BMW) 1 Lap; RT. Haslam (BMW); RT. Fabrizio (BMW); RT. Melandri (BMW); RT. Baz (Kawasaki).

Fastest Lap: Giugliano in 1’39.237 average 160.017 kph.

Pole Position: Sykes in 1’36.950 average 163.792 kph.

Riders Championship:

1. Biaggi 358;
2. Sykes 357,5;
. Melandri 328,5;
4. Checa 287,5;
5. Rea 278,5;
6. Laverty 263,5;
. Guintoli 213,5;
8. Haslam200;
9. Davies 164,5;
10. Giugliano 143;
11. Fabrizio 137,5;
12. Badovini 133;
13. Baz 122;
4. Camier 115,5;
15. Smrz 92,5;
16. Berger 92;
17. Zanetti68;
18. Aoyama 61,5;
19. Hopkins 44;
20. Canepa 42,5;
21. Salom 22;
23.McCormick 19;
23. Lascorz 17;
24. Corti 11;
25. Brignola 10;
26. Mercado9;
27. Lanzi 8;
28. Baiocco 8;
29. Lundh 8;
30. Hickman 7;
31. Staring 6;
32. Polita 4;
33. Aitchison 3;
34. Brookes 1.

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