Submitted by Jared Earle on
World Superbike race two at Jerez would end in the traditional Spanish fireworks being lit by the world champion, but would they be lit on the track? With Marco Melandri sitting it out due to an injured foot, hurt at home, not on the track, a major catalyst for action would be missing.
Eugene Laverty led the race from the start, with Tom Sykes behind him. Davide Giugliano held off Sylvain Guintoli for a short while, swapping places a couple of times, but Giugliano’s bike was just not as stable as it should be, leading to a race that involved him being passed by rider after rider as he slid the bike more than needed.
Federico Sandi added to his weekend’s crimes by knocking Vittorio Iannuzzo off his bike on the first lap, shortly after Mark Aitchison knocked Xavi Fores off. In front, Tom Sykes stole the lead from Eugene Laverty and the two riders broke away from Sylvain Guintoli in third.
The race played out much like the first one, with very few changes of position, apart from Sandi crashing out and getting lapped a few times, and Sylvain Barrier crashing out and nearly taking Broc Parkes out as his bike lurched back into life crossing the track.
Two thirds through the race, Eugene Laverty knew he would have more grip than Tom Sykes and he played a clean pass on Sykes and settled into a rhythm, portioning out what was left in his tyres over the remaining laps, eking out his lead safely.
Eugene Laverty took pole position and a double victory, equalling Sykes’s nine victories of the year; it should have been his weekend, but Tom Sykes and his team were able to maintain the pressure and steal the thunder and the fireworks.
Results:
| Pos | No. | Rider | Bike | Time | Gap | Speed |
| 1 | 58 | E. LAVERTY | Aprilia RSV4 Factory | 1'41.787 | 278,3 | |
| 2 | 66 | T. SYKES | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 2.711 | 1'41.691 | 275,5 |
| 3 | 50 | S. GUINTOLI | Aprilia RSV4 Factory | 5.710 | 1'42.069 | 278,3 |
| 4 | 24 | T. ELIAS | Aprilia RSV4 Factory | 15.509 | 1'42.708 | 278,3 |
| 5 | 19 | C. DAVIES | BMW S1000 RR | 21.830 | 1'43.114 | 274,8 |
| 6 | 2 | L. CAMIER | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 26.558 | 1'42.954 | 271,3 |
| 7 | 57 | L. LANZI | Ducati 1098R | 30.840 | 1'43.892 | 270,7 |
| 8 | 16 | J. CLUZEL | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | 33.056 | 1'43.824 | 279,7 |
| 9 | 8 | M. AITCHISON | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 36.299 | 1'44.029 | 276,2 |
| 10 | 34 | D. GIUGLIANO | Aprilia RSV4 Factory | 40.867 | 1'43.091 | 273,4 |
| 11 | 27 | M. NEUKIRCHNER | Ducati 1199 Panigale R | 44.308 | 1'43.802 | 272,0 |
| 12 | 70 | B. PARKES | Yamaha YZF R1 | 52.483 | 1'44.328 | 265,4 |
| 13 | 20 | S. BARRIER | BMW S1000 RR | 53.674 | 1'43.931 | 274,8 |
| 14 | 84 | M. FABRIZIO | Honda CBR1000RR | 1'20.316 | 1'44.805 | 272,7 |
| 15 | 23 | F. SANDI | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 3 Laps | 1'43.925 | 272,0 |
| RET | 91 | L. HASLAM | Honda CBR1000RR | 17 Laps | 1'44.244 | 275,5 |
| RET | 86 | A. BADOVINI | Ducati 1199 Panigale R | 19 Laps | 1'45.233 | 271,3 |
| RET | 12 | X. FORES | Ducati 1199 Panigale R | 0 | ||
| RET | 31 | V. IANNUZZO | BMW S1000 RR | 0 | ||
| NS | 33 | M. MELANDRI | BMW S1000 RR |
