MONTEREY, Calif. – Chaz Davies led from start to finish to capture his first World Superbike win of the season during Sunday’s conclusion to the GEICO U.S. Round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Davies took command from the moment the lights went out and never gave it up en route to the checkered flag, winning for the factory Ducati team as his teammate – Alvaro Bautista – crashed during the Superpole race earlier in the day.
The Welshman took the advantage at turn one and held it through turn two, while racing into third place behind was Toprak Razgatlioglu, who made a brisk start.
Saturday winner Jonathan Rea tried once to get ahead of Davies on lap two at the entrance to turn five, but ran wide and allowed Davies to take the lead back.
It would stay like that for the entire distance thereafter, with Rea unable to match Davies, who was in a class of his own at the head of the field.
Razgatlioglu ultimately hung on for the final podium spot behind Rea, with Alex Lowes finishing fourth and Tom Sykes completing the top five.
Sixth through 10th were Leon Haslam, Loris Baz, Jordi Torres, Marco Melandri and Michael Ruben Rinaldi.
Bautista, who injured his shoulder in the Superpole crash, saw his luckless weekend come to a premature end when he retired following the second lap of the race.