Melandri takes second victory in WSC season opener Down Under

Marco Melandri did the double in the first rounds of the World Superbike Championship in Australia – pipping Briton Jonathan Rea to the line by 0.02 seconds in Sunday’s race.

The Italian had already produced a masterclass on Saturday when he passed Rea and Briton Tom Sykes in quick succession to take 25 points at Phillip Island.

The Ducati rider took the chequered flag by 1.1 seconds but it was a much tighter affair in Round 2, where the three men on the podium were split by 0.3 seconds.

Seven different riders held the lead across the 22 laps – Ireland’s Eric Laverty set the early pace but crashed on turn six and fell down the pack.

Going into lap 5, eight riders were in a leading pack split by less than a second being led by Chaz Davies (Ducati) until Xavi Fores (Ducati) took him round the outside.

After pit stops had shuffled the pack, Fores was still in front with a slender advantage while Melandri was moving up the pack from fifth.

Rea – who is starting the defence of his crown and looking to win a fourth successive title – took the lead with three laps to go but had Melandri all over his tail, with the Italian finally getting past as the pair headed into the last lap and just holding on as they took the chequered flag.

The results mean Melandri sits at the top of the tree after Australia on 50 points, Sykes is second on 33 while compatriot Rea is on 31.