Masterful Race One Win For Rea In Spain
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Jonathan Rea demonstrated all his race craft and experience to win his second race of the season in WorldSBK race one at Motorland Aragon today.
Starting a front row grid position in a restarted WorldSBK race, he got the better of a battling group of Ducati riders with Chaz Davies and Xavi Fores rounding out the podium.
Despite a relative lack of top end power, because of limits on the maximum revs allowed under the new 2018 technical regulations, Rea found that constant improvements to his set-up through the practice sessions, and a wise tyre choice for the cool track conditions, allowed him to break the sometimes strong challenge of others and win by 1.450 seconds.
The planned 18-lap race was stopped after a few laps, following a three rider collision. In the restarted race, over 17 laps, Rea started well but soon found himself in a battle with Fores, Davies and Marco Melandri (Ducati). He upped his pace towards the end and managed to break clear of the chasers and now takes a 14 point championship lead into race two, on Sunday 15th April.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “These track conditions suited us perfectly today. The tyres worked well in these weather conditions. I managed to find a good rhythm and I was confident, especially at the end of the race, when I knew we would be strong. I saw this race as our chance from the start. I thought that all the cards were on our side, so I just tried to be clean. I made a couple of little mistakes, and when Xavi Fores came past me it was more about trying to understand where he was strong, and then improve. Mid corner, I feel like our bike is a little bit stronger. So all that first section of the track, where it is more flowing, I felt really strong. I am enjoying riding the bike.”