Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) was delighted with an unexpected victory in Race Two of the Motul Thai Round, the 28th of his career and his first of the 2018 campaign. Targeting back-to-back podiums at the Chang International Circuit, Davies put in an excellent combative ride to come through the field from eighth to first in the first eight laps.

“That was something special”, he explains. “At Buriram we´ve struggled every year we´ve come here: I´ve been in the gravel more times than I´ve finished the race I think. It´s been a hard, hard process actually getting into a race-winning position here. But honestly I can´t thank my guys enough because today they gave me such a great package underneath me, the Ducati was working really well - we improved it a step from yesterday, and it was exactly what I asked for in comparison to yesterday´s race. It just gave me that little bit more consistency where I could be a little bit more adaptable with the bike. To get this Buriram win off my back is a nice thing.”

Davies also declared himself satisfied with the new regulations, that have seen four manufacturers in regular contention for podium places and exciting opening laps full of overtaking.

“I take my hat off to the organisers because I´m really not seeing big differences with respect to other bikes, so it´s keeping things really close. It´s making passing really hard, it´s making you think a lot more in the race because instead of being three guys to pass it´s five, six or seven. It´s carnage, but when you come through it´s good carnage.”

Having secured his first ever Thai Round win, Davies now turns his attention to the start of the European season next month, in Aragón. “In Europe it´s kind of like ground zero”, he analyses. “Everyone knows where they´re at, they´re tracks that we´ve tested at a lot. It all becomes a bit more familiar. But certainly no time for resting on this win.”