Misano Sportbike, Race 1: Ieraci wins - Triumph ahead of Aprilia and Yamaha

David Salvador (Kawasaki) took his third pole position in a row in Friday's Sportbike qualifying in Misano. The world championship leader was followed by Aprilia riders Filippo Bianchi and Matteo Vannucci. Carter Thompson (Yamaha), Bruno Ieraci (Triumph) and Jeffrey Buis (Suzuki) formed the second row of the grid. Elia Bartolini (Triumph), Antonio Torres (Kawasaki) and Fenton Seabright (Triumph) started from row 3 in Saturday's race.

At the start of the 12-lap sportbike race at 1.00 pm, the air temperature was 29 degrees Celsius. The tarmac on the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli had heated up to 50 degrees.

Salvador got off to a perfect start. He turned into the first corner in the lead. Jeffrey Buis catapulted himself up to second place. Cazard crashed.

Ieraci took the lead on the first lap. Salvador, Bianchi, Thompson and Buis lined up behind him.

Vannucci crashed on the second lap and was in 5th position at the time, with Seabright setting the fastest lap.

Salvador took the lead again on the third lap. Ieraci countered and took the lead again. Bianchi also passed the world championship leader. Behind Salvador, Thompson put the pressure on with his Yamaha.

On lap 4, Bianchi took the lead and Thompson passed Salvador.

Thompson hadn't had enough and was able to pass Bianchi a lap later. On lap 5, Bianchi was able to overtake Thompson again. Salvador also passed the Yamaha rider.

The order at the start of the sixth lap: Ieraci, Salvador, Bianchi, Thompson and Seabright. Salvador was able to regain second place on the same lap.

Halfway through the session, a leading group of seven riders had pulled out a lead of over a second.

It was close at the front. First Salvador took the lead, but Ieraci and Bianchi countered and passed him again.

At the start of the fourth-to-last lap, Ieraci was still in the lead. Salvador, Bianchi and Seabright lined up behind him. Ieraci was busy collecting lead laps with his Triumph.

The order at the start of the third-to-last lap: Ieraci, Salvador and Thompson. Taiyo Aksu crashed but was able to continue.

With two laps to go, the top 7 were still close together. An exciting finale followed.

Salvador took the lead on the penultimate lap. Then it was time for the final lap. It all came down to a three-way battle between Salvador, Ieraci and Thompson.

On the last lap, Marco Gaggi crashed in turn 4 and Ieraci took the lead again. Thompson just managed to avoid a crash.

Ieraci was then able to pull out a small lead. The Italian won ahead of Bianchi (Italy) and Thompson (Australia). Seabright finished fourth, Salvador dropped back to 5th place.