Sykes wins first round of Superbike in Moscow

Moscow - British rider Tom Sykes became the first man to win a Superbike World Championship event in Russia, winning the first of Sunday’s two races in tricky conditions.

Max Biaggi’s lead at the top of the table was cut to just one and a half points after his closest challenger Marco Melandri finished second for BMW, with Biaggi grabbing third on the last lap from fellow Aprilia rider Eugene Laverty, who finished fourth.

Britain’s Chaz Davies was running a strong third before a fall with two laps to go ended his dream of a first Superbike podium.

Kawasaki rider Sykes remains third in the championship, 33.5 points behind Biaggi, ahead of the second race at Moscow Raceway.

Five of the 21-strong field failed to finish, among them were reigning champion Carlos Checa, who dropped out two laps into the race and British rider Jonathan Rea.

Checa is fourth in the championship standings, with Rea fifth, meaning that the gap between the top three and the rest has widened considerably, as 52 points now separate Sykes from Checa.