Having set the fastest lap of race one, Italian Marco Truoiolo took the holeshot from pole position, but by the end of the opening lap it was Teppei Kugawa who led the pack across the line despite having started 12^th on the grid.

Once again, almost the entire field was in the leading group for the nine-lap battle with the lead changing on almost a corner-by-corner basis. Race 1 winner Chris Clark also benefitted from a strong start to join the front of the group, taking the lead for the first time on the second lap of the race. Other leaders throughout the nine laps included Alessandro Di Persio (Italy), Arai Agaska (Indonesia) and Emmanule Pastore (Italy).

Di Persio was ruled out of replicating his Race 1 podium after taking avoiding action to avoid contact between two other riders at turn one on lap four.

In the closing stages, it was anyone’s race but Clark became a frequent leader in the second half of the battle. The USA rider looked set to repeat his Race 1 performance – confident enough to lead out of the final corner but it wasn’t quite enough this time as he lost several positions on the drag to the line to cross the line fourth.

Timed to perfection, Salles took the lead as the pack crossed the line to take his first victory of the season. Emmanuele Pastore crossed the line second, but with a time penalty for ignoring both a double long lap and subsequent ride through, he was relegated out of the points, promoting Teppei Kugawa to second place and Chris Clark back on the podium to take the series lead.

Arai Agaska finished fourth ahead of Kakeru Okunuki (Japan) and Aymon Bocanegra (Brazil) who completed the top six.

After round one, Clark leads the series from Salles by six points with Teppei Kugawa sitting third ahead of Round 2 at Misano in June.

Mario Salles Neto – Race Winner

“It was a very good race, to take first position in one of the first races of the year is a good way to start especially after pole position on Friday. I am very happy, thank you to my team! Now we look forward to Misano and hopefully we can fight for the top places again there.”