Carlos Checa had another overhaul good weekend, this time in Portimao, but it was Yamaha's turn to shine with a 1-2 finish in what would be its last race in World Superbike as a factory team.

In the first event of the last 2011 doubleheader, Carlos Checa has taken his 15th World Superbike Championship race of the season after passing long-time leader Sylvain Guintoli.

Guintoli had showed pace right on the outset and looked as though he could be able to clinch his maiden World Superbike victory only to see Carlos Checa coming at him quickly.

The 2011 WSBK champion on the contrary did not have a great start and had to work his way upfront and managed to push his way into second place with ten laps of the race remaining.

Checa quickly moved ahead and was on the tail of Guintoli with three laps to go, before making the pass. From here, the Spaniard would stretch away, crossing the line 2.8secs ahead.

Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) completed the podium with a fairly lonely run to third position, while returnee Max Biaggi (Aprilia) charged his way up, coming from 17th to finish 4th.

Spaniard Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki) was the last rider in the top-5, after being denied of what would have been his best World Superbikes result by Biaggi with a pass on the final lap.

It has been known for some time now that Yamaha would exit the World Superbike Championship, but today were about to do it on an ultimate high after Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty gave the manufacturer a fabulous 1-2 finish in its final race.

Though Laverty led the majority of the race, it was Melandri who would out-last his team-mate with a pass three laps from home.

It was Jonathan Rea who took whole of the lead at the start from Melandri but Laverty would past both at the start of lap two into a lead he would maintain for almost the duration of race no. 2.

Melandri did the same to Rea on lap three but made an error on lap five, allowing his rival to slip straight back past along the start-finish line.

Only in the final four laps did the race came alive, Melandri being able to put pressure back on Laverty, to grab the lead for the first time on lap 19, and go on unchallenged to take his maiden WSBK season win.

Laverty was able to fight off Rea until the end to make it a superb 1-2 finish for Yamaha, and a fine run to what is Laverty's sixth podium of the season.

Checa concluded his outstanding season in fourth position ahead of Sylvain Guintoli (Effenbert-Liberty Ducati).

WSBK Portimao Race-1 - Results
Pos. Rider Team/Bike Time/Gap
1. Carlos Checa Althea Ducati 1098R 22 laps
2. Sylvain Guintoli Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R +2.860s
3. Jonathan Rea Castrol Honda CBR1000RR +8.481s
4. Max Biaggi Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +11.963s
5. Joan Lascorz Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +13.333s
6. Marco Melandri Yamaha YZF R1 +18.960s
7. Maxime Berger Supersonic Ducati 1098R +20.489s
8. Tom Sykes Kawasaki RTS ZX-10R +25.320s
9. Leon Haslam BMW Motorrad S1000RR +26.695s
10. Jakub Smrz Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R +26.801s


WSBK Portimao Race-2 - Results
Pos. Rider Team/Bike Time/Gap
1. Marco Melandri Yamaha YZF R1 38m 11.326s
2. Eugene Laverty Yamaha YZF R1 +1.075s
3. Jonathan Rea Castrol Honda CBR1000RR +1.363s
4. Carlos Checa Althea Ducati 1098R +2.648
5. Sylvain Guintoli Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R +3.355s
6. Leon Camier Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +4.709s
7. Max Biaggi Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +6.514s
8. Joan Lascorz Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +14.441s
9. Ayrton Badovini BMW Italia S1000RR +19.128s
10. Maxime Berger Supersonic Ducati 1098R +25.527s