Marco Melandri takes two wins in Phillip Island
The 2018 World Superbike Championship got under way this weekend at Phillip Island in Australia under windy conditions and with new regulations aimed at leveling the field and making the series more competitive.
A raft of technical changes over the winter offered the promise of multiple manufacturers competing at the front, and the proof of the pudding was shown with five different manufacturers leading a lap in Australia.
With defending champion Jonathon Rea suffering from a sugrery he underwent prior to Phillip Island as a result of a motocross crash the balance tipped slightly in favour of his competitors but that wasn't the only factor that would see the regular run of Kawasaki wins and the top riders fighting off some stiff opposition.
Ducati and Kawasaki are still the fastest bikes in the field but with Eugene Laverty having led for Aprilia, Leon Camier fighting in the leading group and Yamaha having top five finishes, it is clear that 2018 will be a competitive season.
Italian Marco Melandri shocked the paddock as he stopped Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea’s record breaking run of 76 races at the top of the championship.
Becoming the first Italian rider to lead the title chase since Max Biaggi in 2012, Melandri’s double win came as a surprise to many given Rea’s recent run of five victories out of the last six races held Down Under. But with a strong pace around the 4.4km circuit, Melandri stamped is dominance in Australia and was able to take two strong victories in the opening round of the season.
74