REA TAKES TWO MORE PODIUMS IN SPAIN

Jonathan Rea secured two more WorldSBK podium finishes on the opening race weekend of the 2022 season, riding to second place in both the Superpole Race and WorldSBK Race Two on Sunday.

In the first ten-lap Superpole race on Sunday morning Rea had to fight hard to take second on his official Ninja ZX-10RR, holding off the constant challenges of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Ducati) through the second half of the race.

In the full distance 18-lap Race Two Rea was again involved in a battle that prevented him from trying to reel in double Sunday race winner Alvaro Bautista (Ducati). Jonathan was finally second once again, having eased out a gap to the riders behind in the latter stages. 

In the championship standings, Rea is second overall with 54 points to Bautista’s 57.

Assen in The Netherlands will host the second round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, between 22-24 April.

Jonathan Rea said: “It was a battling Superpole race. All I could do was to race for second place and the contest with Toprak and Rinaldi was intense. I couldn’t really get a free lap to do my rhythm, but it was fun as well. To come out on top of that little ‘mini-battle’ was nice. Just like the Superpole race I just got involved with other riders in Race Two. I felt my pace was similar to Alvaro’s, but on clear track. Rinaldi and Toprak were so excited to take track position I just really struggled to do my rhythm. I needed clear track to be fast and it took a long time to get that. The race was very aggressive again. I made quite a few mistakes. It was windy out there - and the wind changed direction. Yesterday there was a big tailwind on the straight; today it was a headwind, pushing you at T1 as well. But I am happy with the results. If I could have guaranteed these results on Monday, I would have signed up for them. To be best of the rest today I have to be really happy and move forward to Assen.”