Gordon Ritchie | May 28, 2017
Rea Wins WorldSBK Race Two at Donington Park
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) played an eventual game of chase in the second 23-lap race of the Donington WorldSBK race weekend, with Rea holding on to a lead that he took from tenth on the grid after only one and bit laps.
It was an incredible ride of redemption after his first day misfortunes, leading on lap 23 by 1.601 seconds to take his eighth win of 2017 and Kawasaki’s 100th race win in this class.
Behind the final top two, Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) made a great charge through to go third, passing Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) with one lap to go.
Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) was fifth, and another local rider, Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) sixth.
Spaniards Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Ducati) and Roman Ramos (Team GOELEVEN Kawasaki) placed seventh and eighth.
A great run for local wild card Jake Dixon (Royal Air Force Regular & Reserve Kawasaki) saw him ninth on his BSB bike, and Raffaele De Rosa (Althea BMW Racing Team) take tenth place.
A rash of top riders did not finish, Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) being knocked off as Leandro Mercado (IodaRacing Team Aprilia) was put off his line; as he came back he clashed with Haslam’s right and the English rider fell.
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had his chain snap and Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) was just one of many rider to no-score on a day when only 14 riders finished.
In the points Rea has 260 points, and Sykes 205.
Sofuoglu Makes It Three
Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) took his third straight win in the WorldSSP championship with another full-point score at Donington Park, his third at the English track in successive years.
The race was finally held over 13 laps, after a red flag incident when oil was spilt at the Goddard’s Hairpin entrance caused a re-start. Patrick Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was unable to make the final race due to machine problems.
Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) and Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) had a great last lap battle for second but Mahias finally took it, keeping his championship lead at a high level of 30 points, this time from new overall second place rider Sofuoglu.
An all Triumph battle for fourth gave Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing Triumph) the nod over Jack Kennedy (Profile Racing Triumph).
Behind the top five Sheridan Morais (Kallio Race System Yamaha) held off the threat of Anthony West (EAB West Racing Yamaha) and Kyle Smith (GEMAR Balloons – Team Lorini Honda).
Hikari Okubo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) was ninth.
An all-British battle for the last place in the top ten went to wildcard Joe Francis (Halsall Racing Team Yamaha), from WorldSSP regular Kyle Ryde (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing).
Mahias leads the championship on 105 points from a fast closing Sofuoglu on 75 with Morias third on 68.