PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea came out on top in an exciting last lap battle with Red Devil Roma’s Leon Haslam to take the first win of the 2015 World Superbike season at Phillip Island.
For Rea it was a list of firsts—his first win for his new team, his first win (and podium) at Phillip Island and the first rider for Kawasaki to win at Phillip Island since Anthony Gobert in 1996.
“I just tried to do my best to be calm and conserve my tire for the last laps,” Rea said about the race. “I knew Aprilia and Leon was very strong. At least for me when he showed me a wheel I had some fight for him. It was an exciting last lap. So I’m really happy. Good time to thank Kawasaki for this great opportunity… they gave me a package that I could race for the win today.”
Although Haslam came just short of the win, he was happy to return to the podium for his new team. Especially after an off track excursion–while fighting Rea for the lead–on lap 15 that had riding through the grass. Thankfully for Haslam, he managed to stay on two wheels and get back on track in fourth and the chance to battle with Rea again later in the race.
Also in that mix for the lead was Aruba.it Ducati’s Chaz Davies who rounded out the all-Brit podium in third. Like Rea, it was also Davies first podium at Phillip Island and the Welshman looks to learn from race one and come back fighting in race two.
In fourth was Haslam’s teammate Jordi Torres–an impressive finish for the rookie. Behind Torres was fellow Rookieand reigning World Supersport Champion, Michael van der Mark on the Pata Honda.
Rea’s teammate Tom Sykes was also in the mix early on in fourth, but ran off track battling with the young Van der Mark. Sykes’ efforts to avoid making contact with the rookie’s rear wheel at high speed dropped him back to 10th, but the former World Champ fought his way back to finish sixth ahead of last season’s series rival Sylvain Guintoli on the Pata Honda.
Althea Racing Ducati’s Nico Terol finished eighth in his World Superbike debut. Behind Terol was Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes who fought his way back from 16th to get a top-10 finish. Rounding out the top 10 was MV Agusta Reparto Corse’s Leon Camier.
Former AMA racer and RedBull Rookie Leandro Mercado worked his way from the back of the grid (a result of a Superpole infraction) to finish 12th on the Barni Racing Team Ducati. In 13th was three-time world champ Troy Bayliss who stepped in at a moments notice to fill in for injured Aruba.it Ducati rider Davide Giugliano. Bayliss’ first World Superbike race since 2008 was not a bad effort as the 45-year old Australian ran in the top 10 for most of the race and as high as seventh at one point.
Team Hero EBR’s Niccolo Canepa crashed out of a points position on lap 17. Unfortunately for the Italian rider, Canepa was declared unfit for race two with a left ankle sprain. Canepa’s teammate/Team Manager Larry Pegram finished the day in 18th.
2015 World Superbike
Phillip Island
Race One Results
1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki)
2. Leon Haslam (Aprilia)
3. Chaz Davies (Ducati)
4. Jordi Torres (Aprilia)
5. Michael van der Mark (Honda)
6. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki)
7. Sylvain Guintoli (Honda)
8. Nico Terol (Ducati)
9. Alex Lowes (Suzuki)
10. Leon Camier (MV Agusta)
