---
title: "Melandri hails ‘dream’ podium return"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/02/26/melandri-hails-dream-podium-return/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "SBK"
published: "2017-02-26T11:10:39Z"
modified: "2017-02-26T11:11:03Z"
---

# Melandri hails ‘dream’ podium return

Aruba.it Ducati’s Marco Melandri made up for the disappointment of his non-finish on Saturday with a return to the World Superbike podium in the second race of the weekend.

The Italian rider made his long-awaited return to the Superbike World Championship in yesterday’s season-opener at Phillip Island, and was running in the fight for the rostrum when he fell off at Turn 2.

![Robert Cianflone/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/02/645428154.jpg)

Unhappy at what he felt was a chop from Yamaha’s Alex Lowes, Melandri was still able to take away the positives from the race and was hopeful of another strong showing today.

Starting from 10th, the Italian lost a little time fighting his way through the pack, but once in clear air he was able to set the timing screens ablaze and chase down the leaders.

“It was a really tough race today. I got a good start but lost positions in the traffic early on, so I had to push hard to climb back, asking a lot of both myself and the tyres,” he said.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/02/644741602.jpg)

Melandri took the lead on lap 15 and tried to break away from the busy lead group. However, in doing so he chewed through his Pirelli rubber and was powerless to keep up with team-mate Chaz Davies and Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea in the final push to the flag.

“When I took the lead, I tried to impose my own rhythm but it turned out not to be the right move,” the Ducati rider admitted.

“With three laps to go, Rea and Davies gave the final push, I was struggling with grip and couldn’t attack them.”

Despite dropping back from a shot at the win in the closing stages, Melandri is still jubilant over his first WorldSBK rostrum since race two at Magny-Cours back in 2014, and says this result proves they are heading in the right direction.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/02/645445018.jpg)

“I’m feeling great. The first round, to already get a podium, for me is like a dream. I just have to thank Ducati and Aruba and all the guys that made it possible.

“We needed a full race to understand where to improve, and a podium shows that we’re working in the right direction with the whole team.”