Althea Racing's Carlos Checa and Kawasaki Racing Team's Tom Sykes (Photo: Infront Motor Sports)

Race 1

Checa waited until half race distance to put a move on early leader Sykes but when he did he rode at lap record pace and took his second win of the year in some style. Sykes had his best ever dry-race performance on the Kawasaki in second place, with Haslam and Biaggi disputing the final podium place. It went to Haslam, by a second from his Italian rival. Fifth was Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing) but just behind him Melandri and Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) finally passed long-time fifth place runner, Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Racing Team Ducati). Zanetti was a still-impressive eighth.

Results:

1. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 38'06.264
2. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 3.206
3. Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 5.593
4. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 6.519
5. Laverty E. (IRL) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 24.662
6. Melandri M. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 27.261
7. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 27.384
8. Zanetti L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 28.299
9. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 34.067
10. Canepa N. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 35.724
11. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 36.738
12. Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 37.257
13. Hopkins J. (USA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 50.418
14. Mercado L. (ARG) Kawasaki ZX-10R 53.623
15. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 53.942
16. McCormick B. (CAN) Ducati 1098R 54.139; etc.

Race 2

Checa played a strong second card at Imola to take his first double win of 2012, 1.9 seconds ahead of Sykes and the hard-charging Haslam. Sykes set a new lap record of 1 minute 47.552 seconds to try and escape Checa on lap 7, but he could not manage the pace over race distance. Biaggi was fourth again, making the quartet of top finishers the same as in Race 1. Fifth this time around was Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) who did well to survive a trip across the gravel after tangling with sixth placed Laverty. Rea was fighting against muscle fatigue and bruising, which resulted from his big highside crash in practice. Jakub Smrz (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert) was a very close seventh. Leon Camier (Crescent Fixi Suzuki) rode to eighth place, the best finish for a Suzuki rider so far this season.

Results:

1. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 37'57.571
2. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1.935
3. Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 2.969
4. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 3.346
5. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 18.925
6. Laverty E. (IRL) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 21.180
7. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 21.392
8. Camier L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 23.797
9. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 24.219
10. Melandri M. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 25.599
11. Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 25.776
12. Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 26.004
13. Zanetti L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 31.172
14. Davies C. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 33.837
15. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 45.541
16. McCormick B. (CAN) Ducati 1098R 50.807; etc.

Points (after 2 of 14 rounds):

1. Checa 75
2. Biaggi 71
3. Sykes 69
4. Haslam 47
5. Melandri 46
6. Rea 40
7. Smrz 30
8. Laverty 29
9. Guintoli 21
10. Berger; etc.

Manufacturers:

1. Ducati 91
2. Aprilia 71
3. Kawasaki 69
4. BMW 63
5. Honda 40
6. Suzuki 15