Superbike Magny-Cours, Race 1: Great merit for Chaz Davies

Superbike, Fassi French Round, Race 1. Chaz Davies scores his sixth win of the season, his personal best, for Ducati at the end of an incredibly uncertain first heat on the Magny-Cours circuit, scene of the third-to-last round of the 2016 Superbike World Championship.

This victory is largely thanks to the Welsh rider, who was able to dare as only true champions can do, the only rider to decide to start on intermediate tires while all the others, with the track still wet, opted for rain tyres.
Davies, who started from third place, inevitably played defense in the early stages of the race, due to the precarious grip conditions, slipping out of the top ten and then staging an incredible comeback: the Welshman crossed the finish line first, with about ten seconds ahead, also thanks to the pit stops of the opponents.
In Race 2 the track conditions should be those seen on Friday during the two free practices, therefore dry, where Davies literally dominated the scene: so we'll see what he's capable of doing.

Davide Giugliano did not take part in the race, and will not take to the track for the second either, as he was declared "unfit" following a crash in Superpole 1, which aggravated the already precarious condition of his already injured right shoulder.

“I tried to make a reasoned choice, given that in the past we have not chosen the best strategy in similar situations. I knew we would suffer at the start of the race but we would be rewarded” – he said Chaz Davies – “At the start I simply tried to stay in the saddle, it felt like I was riding on ice in some sections but the track dried quickly, and when I saw the gap to the leaders I realized I could do it. It was fun to come back, there were a lot of overtaking. Tomorrow the weather should be better and we have a good chance in the dry, even if we still have something to improve."

“I tried to run until the end. Yesterday we stopped early to try not to put too much stress on my shoulder, and with the wet I immediately felt at ease this morning" - said a disappointed David Giugliano – “Unfortunately the crash in Superpole, even if at very low speed, aggravated the situation. Doing a 21 lap race with little strength and a lot of pain is impossible. Now I will rest and continue with physiotherapy on the tendons in order to show up in Jerez in better condition. Time is on our side."

“Of all the victories achieved in 2016, this was perhaps the most exciting for the way it was constructed, finding a perfect mix between performance and strategy. Congratulations to Chaz, who won one more race than last season when there are still five to go” – he said Stefano Cecconi, CEO of Aruba SpA and Team Principal – “Sorry for Davide, who tried courageously until the end, but we agree with the decision to stay in the pits. We are waiting for him in Jerez!”