Laverty/Voltcom Suzuki, Guintoli/Aprilia Racing Grab Wins at Phillip Island

In Race 1, Eugene Laverty stormed to victory on his Voltcom Crescent Suzuki debut at Phillip Island in Australia, securing the first World Championship win for the Japanese manufacturer since 2010. Laverty fought back from a difficult start and made his way through from seventh to hunt down the leading pack of Davide Giugliano (Ducati), Marco Melandri (Aprilia) and Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) from lap seven. The Irishman advanced on the leaders, making his break for the lead on lap 17 and didn’t look back. The Yoshimura-powered GSX-R controlled the pace for the remaining five laps bringing the first victory for Crescent Suzuki on the world stage. Aprilia factory teammates Melandri and Guintoli were second and third, respectively.

Race 2 again saw Laverty challenging for the lead. After a brief battle in the opening laps, Laverty’s Suzuki GSX-R was up front again until Guintoli took back the lead on lap 12. Two laps later an engine failure for Laverty, riding second at the time behind Guintoli, brought about an early end to Race 2 for the number 58 Suzuki. The consequent oil spill on the track forced the marshals to suspend the race. This meant that the finishing order was decided by the last lap completed which had Guintoli winning in front of Kawasaki riders Loris Baz and Tom Sykes. Ducati rider Giugliano placed fourth in both races.

Guintoli’s third place finish in Race 1 and win in Race 2 puts him on top of the WSBK Rider Championship points standings with Aprilia at the top of the Manufacturer standings.

Silvain Guintoli, Aprilia Racing