REA THIRD AT PORTIMAO

Jonathan Rea took another WorldSBK podium finish at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal today, with third place in race one.

In Superpole qualifying earlier in the day he claimed his 43rd career pole position, drawing himself level on the all-time statistics with second placed rider Troy Corser. Rea was just 0.010 seconds from equalling his existing track best record with his Superpole time of 1m 39.620 today.

At the start of Race One Jonathan unavoidably tagged the rear tyre of Alvaro Bautista, the eventual race winner, and was pushed wide. He lost places and dropped to sixth as he rejoined the leading group, fighting to get back into the podium battle. 

A spectacular early few laps saw that lead group of six riders fighting for the lead, with Rea eventually moving into third position with half race distance to go. He would remain there until the end of the race to claim his 17th rostrum of the year.

Sunday’s action for Rea will start with Warm Up at 09:00 before the ten-lap Tissot Superpole race at 11:00 and a second 20-lap Race Two at 14:00.

Jonathan Rea said: “It was so nice to take another Superpole. It was a good lap but so strange because it didn’t feel like a pole position lap because there were a few mistakes in there. At the back end of the session there were a lot of yellow flags so I got my time in early. It was so nice for Alex to be on the front row too, and good for the team. In the race I struggled at the very beginning because Alvaro cut back in T3 and he just picked me up a little bit. Fortunately I stayed on the bike and then I had to regain track position. I got right back there but then the pace, for me, was just too fast. I couldn’t do 1’40s laps. All weekend I have been doing low 1’41s. So the front two were just getting away, getting away - and then in the last half lasted the race I just struggled in corner exit. The rear tyre was spinning, the electronics were working too much and it was just a combination of things. So, there is room for improvement and hopefully tomorrow we can get a bit closer.”