Lucas Mahias became the third different winner in World Supersport 2017 after pipping Kallio Racing’s Sheridan Morais at the final corner on the final lap.
The race was a typically frantic affair, with South African Morais leading into the first corner, whilst pole man PJ Jacobsen slipped back to fifth.
Lorini Honda’s Kyle Smith was keen to make amends for his Thailand disqualification, and quickly disposed of Morais into Turn 12 on the second tour.
The pair ran line astern, with Mahias, the returning Kenan Sofuoglu, Jacobsen and Niki Tuuli close behind. However, the Finish rider’s hopes of a podium faded when he went down exiting Turn 9 on the fifth lap.
Mahias grabbed the lead on lap seven, whilst Morais and Smith locked horns. But the Briton ran too hot into the Turn 14 chicane and crashed. Two corners later Federico Caricasulo went down, bringing Sofuoglu with him.
This released Jacobsen into third, the American struggling to run the pace of the podium battle in the opening stages.
Morais led Mahias as they started the final lap, the Kallio rider brilliantly countering an attack at Turn 5 from the Frenchman. With the line into the chicane before the back straight covered off, Mahias knew it had to be a do or die move into the final corner.
Morais ran ever so slightly wide as they rounded the long left-hander, Mahias cutting through on his inside to take a maiden WorldSSP victory and a five-point championship lead by just 0.014s. Jacobsen completed the podium for the first time this season.
Jules Cluzel made up for a disappointing qualifying in 13th to salvage fourth and finally put points on the board this year, the CIA Honda rider keeping Puccetti’s Micahel Canducci at bay. Roberto Rolfo rounded out the top six on his Vamag MV Agusta.
Kyle Ryde rose to eighth from 18th in Aragon, with Estonian Hannes Soomers an impressive ninth to finish top European Supersport Cup rider. Luke Stapleford took the chequered flag in 10th on his Profile Racing Triumph.
Hikari Okubo led home Rob Hartog in 11th, with Alex Baldolini’s replacement Xavi Cardelus, Zulfahmi Khairuddin and Kazuki Watanabe completing the points. Smith recovered to 16th after his early fall.
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