Michele Pirro has taken a surprise first career World Supersport win after a dramatic final corner collision between title contenders Kenan Sofuoglu and Eugene Laverty took them out just yards from the finish line.
Sofuoglu and Laverty had been embarking on a thrilling duel from the very first corner, the pair swapping the lead persistently throughout the race – at times on four occasions per lap.
Tailing Sofuoglu into the final lap, Laverty made several attempts to get the better of his Honda counterpart, but it would be his bungled attempt up the inside of the final corner chicane that would bring the tussle to an unexpected conclusion.
With both riders braking late as they entered the bend, Laverty's Parkalgar Honda would fold beneath him on the kerb, the Irishman swiping out Sofuoglu in the process with the chequered flag in sight.
The pair scrabbled to get going again, but while they would pick themselves up to cross the line, they couldn't get going before Pirro had come past to record a very unexpected victory.
Even more fortuitous for the Ten Kate Honda rider, he entered the final lap in fourth position behind Chaz Davies on the Triumph. However, the Welshman and the British manufacturer would be cruelly denied a maiden WSS victory by a mechanical problem just a few corners from the chequered flag.
Despite the drama, Sofuoglu still beat Laverty in second position to keep his title hopes on course, a rather bemused Laverty left to settle for third. The margin between them is now 16 points with one race remaining.
Further back, Broc Parkes put in a superb ride to finish fourth having been as low as 14th following a poor start, the Australian finishing ahead of Kawasaki team-mate Katsuaki Fujiwara.
Massimo Roccoli equalled his best finish of the season in sixth, ahead of Mark Aitchison, Cristiano Migliorati, Roberto Tamburini and Gianluca Vizziello.
Nurburgring hero Gino Rea crashed out of contention on lap four.
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