Redding completes WorldSBK debut with trio of podiums in Australia.
Race two of Phillip Island’s Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) opener served up another thriller, as Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) fended off teammate Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) to secure victory.
The British ace rode strongly throughout the 22-lap outing, ultimately edging out the five-time champion by a slender 0.037s as they crossed the chequered flag.
Runner-up honours for Rea capped off a positive Sunday, the number winning the Superpole race after enduring a disastrous at the Yamaha Financial Services round.
WorldSBK rookie Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) locked out the podium, while it was Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha) and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) completed the top five.
Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) was sixth, followed by Maximilian Scheib (Oorelac Racing Verdnatura), Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing), Sandro Cortese (Ooutdo Kawasaki TPR), and Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK).
Leon Haslam (Team HRC) crashed at the beginning of the race before recovering for 12th, while race one winner Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha) experienced a technical issue and was forced out of the race.
WorldSBK now heads to Qatar on 13-15 March for round two of the series.