'Dream' weekend for Melandri
After enduring his "worst weekend" at Miller last year, Marco Melandri could not have asked for a much better trip to Utah this time around.
The BMW rider finished 10th and sixth in 2011, but there was a complete reverse in his fortunes on Monday as the Italian was P2 in Race 1 and then held off Jonathan Rea in Race 2 to claim the victory.
"It is amazing. My team and BMW did an awesome job. Here in Miller it was my worst weekend last year, and it was the worst for BMW, too. So going home with two podiums, a win and a second place, is like a dream," he said.
He added: "I am happy because the bike is working well on different types of tracks. But now we have to be focused, we cannot think that we are going to be on the top every Sunday so we have to keep working. But my team made a great job, thanks to everyone, to all the guys back in Germany. I am so happy and proud to be with BMW. This is the best team I ever worked with."
Melandri admits he had some good fortune after leader Carlos Checa crashed out with the chequered flag in sight.
"In Race 2, for sure I had a little bit of luck with Carlo crashing. I was struggling a bit in the beginning, and when Johnny passed me I lost the concentration," he said.
"It took me some time to catch him. But again, when the fuel level dropped down I felt so much better on the bike and fortunately I could pass Johnny on the straight because my BMW engine was so strong. Otherwise it would have been very difficult for me to try to make a pass."
