Melandri slapped with Misano grid penalty for Davies clash

Marco Melandri has been handed a six-place grid penalty for the next round of the 2019 World Superbike Championship at Misano following the collision with Chaz Davies that eliminated both from race two in Jerez.

The pair were disputing fourth place in the final race of the weekend when the GRT Yamaha rider’s ambitious attempt to pass up the inside of the long turn five right-hander instead prompted heavy contact that brought them both down.

With Davies labelling the incident as a ‘f***ing d**khead move’ by Melandri when speaking to reporters [full story to follow], an investigation by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards Panel subsequently pointed the finger of blame at the Italian.

As a sanction in punishment, Melandri will drop six positions on the grid for the next Superpole Race (Race 2 of 3) to be held at Misano in two weeks’ time.

It comes after Jonathan Rea was also given a grid drop penalty – albeit to the back of the field – for the Superpole Race, which is run over half the distance of a full WorldSBK race.

New-for-2019, a standard FIM WorldSBK Stewards Panel comprising Gerry Bryce, Tamara Makto and Kendy Chan – separate from rights holders Dorna – is now authorised to declare sanctions and penalties towards riders for race incidents.