News 25 Jun 2018

Dual WorldSBK victories for Rea at Laguna Seca

Davies runner-up on both occasions at America's eighth round.

Source: Supplied.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) claimed an incredible double victory at Laguna Seca’s eighth round of the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), strengthening his points lead in the process.

The Irishman defeated Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) in the opening affair, as it was Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) and Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who closed out the top five.

Rea took his second win of the weekend in race two, becoming the most successful rider in the world championship history at the US racetrack in the process. He was again unstoppable, flying to the lead in the opening eight laps despite having to start from the back of row three. Second went again to Davies, with a sensational performance from Laverty to complete the podium in third.

Rea wasted no time at the lights. By the end of lap one he had managed to climb from ninth on the grid to fifth – three laps around Laguna Seca later, he was already up to second and chasing race leader Laverty. Sitting behind the leading group was Melandri who crashed out in the early stages of the race making it the third time in the last seven races that the Italian has failed to score any points.

It didn’t take much longer for the race one leader to pass Laverty either, picking off the Aprilia rider with ease through Lap eight. A similar story to yesterday – two thirds of the race left, an open track ahead, and an unbeatable race pace. When Rea finds his groove and is this confident, the three time champion is second to no one.

Even Davies, who put in another stunning climb through the ranks and passed Laverty into second with eight laps to go, couldn’t close the gap and had to settle for second. In a similar performance to Sunday however, there was plenty of action for the remaining rostrum place. Laverty, who was now in third, was quickly hunted down by the two Pata Yamaha riders.

But the pair battled amongst themselves for just enough laps for the Irishman to keep them both at bay, meaning he was able to clinch his first podium of the 2018 campaign, also a first since Sepang 2014.

The battle between round six and seven’s race winners van der Mark and Lowes, saw the Brit finally emerge victorious with two laps to go thanks to a brave pass in the run-up to the Corkscrew. A bit of magic from the Lincolnshire rider means he is able to close the gap to his teammate in the standings to just 32 points. Van der Mark meanwhile couldn’t make the best of a fantastic start, which saw the Dutchman rise to second at Turn One, and crossed the line in fifth.

Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team) repeated his Race One performance with sixth at the flag, a sign that the Spaniard is building back his form after two forgettable rounds. Behind him was fellow Spaniard Jordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in seventh, ahead of Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in eighth.

Sykes is a three time winner at Laguna Seca, but on Sunday he found himself collapsing down the ranks from the start and it never quite worked out throughout the 25 laps for the Kawasaki rider, closing a disappointing weekend.

Jake Gagne (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) went one better than on Saturday, crossing the line in ninth and taking his personal best result in WorldSBK. A fantastic weekend at home for the Californian, who crossed the line ahead of Loris Baz (GULF Althea BMW Racing Team) in 10th.

The Superbike World Championship heads to Misano in Italy on 6-8 July for round nine of the series.

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