Image: Supplied.

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea rode to a controlled victory in race one of the 2018 Motul Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) at Misano.

Rea had his Superpole snatched away in the closing seconds, but that mattered little to the reigning champion by the time race one rolled around. He went on to win by 2.791s at the conclusion of 21 laps.

There was a stunning battle for the podium however as Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) and Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) completed the podium, as Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha) and pole-setter Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) were fourth and fifth.

Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team), in special ‘tricolore’ livery for the Misano race, was the best Independent rider in sixth, ahead of the home duo of Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) and Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia). Ninth and 10th were Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda) and Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing Verdnatura).

Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha) has taken his first pole position of the 2018 Supersport World Championship after a stunning fastest lap of 1m37.694s, nearly half a second faster than Jules Cluzel (NRT) in second and Randy Krummenacher (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team). Australia’s Anthony West rode his Kawasaki to P10.

In World Supersport 300 it was Galang Hendra Pratama (Yamaha Motoxracing) on pole with a 1m50.517s, from Scott Deroue (Motoport Kawasaki) and Mika Perez (Kawasaki ParkinGo Team). Of the Australians, Tom Edwards (Nutec Benjan Kawasaki) was 26th and Tom Toparis (Motoport Kawasaki) 31st on the grid.

Detailed results