Davies Set For Runners-Up Spot In World Superbikes After Argentine Salvage Mission

Chaz Davies looks set to finish runner-up in the World Superbikes Championship after finishing fourth in Sunday’s race in Argentina.

The Powys rider recovered from his crash in the opening race on the new track on Saturday as Jonathan Rea powered to a record 10th win in a row.

Davies now leads Holland’s Michael van der Mark by 24 points with just 50 points left to race for at the season ending weekend in Qatar after the Dutchman crossed the line in ninth spot.

The 31-year-old said: “It’s been a topsy-turvy weekend for us, so, to get fourth feels a bit like a salvage.

“We got good points, which is important in the fight for second place in the championship, extending our lead again. That said, we didn’t have the most ideal weekend.

“A couple of technical issues made us start on the back foot and put ourselves in a position to take a bit too many risks.

“I got through the field and into a reasonable position early on, and then I kept my head down and tried to get on the podium.

“Towards the end, I felt like I had a little bit more left, but I didn’t want to risk too much after what happened yesterday.

“We have a better potential than what we’ve shown here and I’m looking forward to make the most of it in Qatar.”

Davies started on the fourth row of the grid but climbed his way into third spot at one point of the race before eventually finishing fourth.

 

Rea claimed his fifth consecutive double of the season for Kawasaki at the Circuito San Juan Villicum as Superbikes made its debut in South America.

The four-time champion was forced to dig deep to take the Argentinian double ahead of Xavi Fores with Davies’ Aruba it Racing team-mate Marco Melandri in third spot.

Rea now holds another record to his name for the most consecutive wins in a World Superbike season, beating Colin Edwards and Neil Hodgson’s previous streak of nine victories.