Source: WorldSBK.

The first ever WorldSBK race to be held in Thailand has been won by Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), who dominated the 20-lap encounter at the all-new Chang International Circuit in Buriram.

Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) and Rea’s teammate Tom Sykes joined him on the podium.

Rea led from the start, building up a two-second lead over the chasing pack by the end of lap five and winning by 6.329s at the flag. Courtesy of the 17th win of his career, the Briton now lies atop the standings with a five-point lead over Haslam.

Former champion Sykes made a great start from the second row, shadowing his team mate for the opening few turns before he was passed by the Aprilia Racing machine of Haslam, who then set about hunting down Kawasaki-mounted Rea.

As the leading two eased away, the battle for third was intense with Sykes, front row qualifier Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team) and Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) embroiled in a titanic fight.

Davies crashed out of fifth at the end of the ninth lap, the double podium finisher in Australia was able to remount, eventually finishing in 11th.

By half distance the gap between the leading two was constant but as Alex Lowes slid out of podium contention at the final turn on lap 13, the closest on track battle was for third between Sykes and WorldSBK rookie Jordi Torres who was looking strong in fourth and gradually closing in on the former champion.

With the packed grandstand erupting to the cheers of the enthusiastic fans at the end of the final lap, Rea was able to clinch the win. Haslam crossed the line 1.9s ahead of Sykes and Torres, the trio completing the top-four.

Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) rode a lonely race to be classified an eventual fifth ahead of a recovering Alex Lowes who was able to salvage 10 points with a sixth place finish.

Behind the top six the remaining top 10 positions were rounded out by Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing Ducati), Troy Bayliss (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team), David Salom (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) and Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing Ducati) who rounded out the top 10 respectively after an enthralling race long fight.

Lowes was later docked a position from sixth to seventh, as was Bayliss in his third race back on the Panigale R, for overtaking under yellow flags.

Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Niccolò Canepa (Team Hero EBR) both retired in the early stages along with local wildcard rider Chanon Chumjai (RAC Oil Racing Team). Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike) retired from the top 10 at the start of lap seven as did Anucha Nakcharoensri (YSS TS Racing)

Christophe Ponsson (Grillini Racing Team Kawasaki) was the only other faller, the youngest rider on the WorldSBK grid crashed uninjured at turn one on lap five.

The second race was won after another lights to flag victory by Rea, who claimed his 18th career win and extended his lead in the championship to 10 points in the process.

The result capped a perfect weekend for Kawasaki mounted Rea who had the accolade of being on pole position, winning both races and recording the fastest laps in both encounters. Incredibly he led every single lap of racing too.

Lowes finished third, the Englishman who was keen to make up for the error that cost him a race one podium made a lightning start, shadowing Rea for the first half of the race before succumbing to fellow British rider Haslam.

Sykes had a fairly uneventful race to claim fifth just behind Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils), who scored another solid result in his debut WorldSBK season in fourth.

Clutch problems for Guintoli saw the Frenchman having to start from the rear of the grid after missing the sighting lap. He would have an incredible first lap that saw him complete the first lap in 12th.

He would eventually finish sixth after getting the better of team-mate Michael van der Mark who made up for his retirement in race one by finishing seventh.

Baiocco took eighth ahead of Salom and Mercado, with Bayliss finishing just outside of the top 10 in 11th for his second lot of points today.

Davies suffered his second crash of the day early in the race, but fortunately as in race one he was able to remount, eventually scoring the final championship point with 15th.

Team Hero EBR riders Canepa and Pegram didn’t participate in race two, both suffering engine issues caused by the extreme heat.

In terms of the overall championship standings Rea leads the way ahead of Haslam respectively as the series heads to Aragon in Spain in three weeks time.

2015 World Superbike Championship
Round two – Chang International Circuit, Thailand

Superbike race one results:
1. Jonathan Rea
2. Leon Haslam +6.329s
3. Tom Sykes +8.163s
4. Jordi Torres +8.513s
5. Sylvain Guintoli +20.502s
6. Matteo Baiocco +26.118s
7. Alex Lowes +22.249s (penalised)
8. David Salom +27.925s
9. Troy Bayliss (AUS) +27.174s (penalised)
10. Leandro Mercado +32.610s

Superbike race two results:
1. Jonathan Rea
2. Leon Haslam +4.946s
3. Alex Lowes +8.701s
4. Jordi Torres +10.628s
5. Tom Sykes +14.325s
6. Sylvain Guintoli +23.060s
7. Michael van der Mark +21.246s
8. Matteo Baiocco +24.868s
9. David Salom +25.744s
10. Leandro Mercado +29.692s
11. Troy Bayliss (AUS) +34.533s

Superbike championship standings:
1. Jonathan Rea 95
2. Leon Haslam 85
3. Tom Sykes 50
4. Sylvain Guintoli 41
5. Jordi Torres 39
6. Chaz Davies 38
7. Alex Lowes 32
8. Matteo Baiocco 30
9. Nico Terol 26
10. Leandro Mercado 21
13. Troy Bayliss (AUS) 15

Click here for detailed results