Tom Sykes who started on pole position in the first race of 2012 WSBK led for one lap before he was overhauled by defending Champion Carlos Checa who after three laps in the front slid out of the race. Max Biaggi on his Aprilia who was just behind the Ducati riding Checa, utilized this opportunity to claim the win in the first of the two races.  Marco Melandri made an impressive debut for BMW by taking the second position in the race and Effenbert Liberty Ducati’s Sylvain Guintoli took the final position on the podium.  Tom Sykes and his Kawasaki had to be content with a disappointing fourth place in the race after having started so well. Hiroshi Aoyama making his WSBK debut finished in eighth position on board a Honda.