Chaz Davies continued his winning ways as he claimed the first World Superbike race win at Jerez this afternoon.
And there was cause for celebration in the Kawasaki Racing Team camp as the squad clinched the 2016 manufacturers title when riders Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea finished second and third respectively.
Rea got the best start at the green light, hitting the front and leading into the first corner, as Chaz Davies got a quick getaway from sixth to move up to fourth behind Alex Lowes’ Pata Yamaha.
Sykes was soon back in front as Davies pestered Lowes, looking desperate to get past and keep up with the Kawasakis. He got through on the final corner of the opening lap as Sykes led the pack across the line into Lap Two.
Moments later both the Aruba Ducati of Davide Giugliano and the Barni Racing Team Ducati of Xavi Fores crashed out, as Davies continued his charge and moved past Rea into second.
Lowes crashed out from fourth place on the third lap, while Davies was sizing up Sykes up at the front, making the move at the end of the lap to take the lead.
From there, very little changed for the remainder of the race. Comfortable out in front, Davies began to stretch himself a nice lead, while Sykes kept Rea a good second and a half behind.
Rea however, didn’t need to push. With Davies up front he knew there was no chance to win the title today so opted to box clever and settle for a nice haul of points.
Davies won by more than three seconds ahead of Sykes, with Rea third. Behind, Honda World Superbike team-mates Nicky Hayden and Michael van der Mark came over the line almost together in fourth and fifth position.
Sylvain Guintoli was sixth on his Pata Yamaha, while Leon Camier snatched seventh on his MV Agusta, having passed Jordi Torres’ Althea BMW on Lap 16.
Torres took eighth, ahead of team-mate Markus Reiterberger as the Milwaukee BMW of Josh Brookes was tenth.