Thailand WorldSBK Superpole winner Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) secured his first race win of the 2018 season in front-running style after resisting early attacks from teammate Tom Sykes, who faded to finish sixth at the end, and seven seconds down after 20 laps of heat and humidity.
2018 Thailand WorldSBK Race One Results
With a clear track ahead of him Rea pushed on to win by just over 1.5 seconds.
The remarkable Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) was first to relegate Sykes down the order and he looked on for a podium finish. Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) chased down and passed Camier. Fores and Davies ended up second and third, respectively.
With the top three spots filled, Camier was fourth and the advancing Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK) fifth, jumping Sykes near the end to finish up top Yamaha rider.
Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK) came home just behind the Lowes/Sykes battle, in seventh.
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) experienced a huge wobble at one stage of the race and dropped a place immediately, finishing eighth.
Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) was a second behind Melandri, with Jordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) right with him across the line.
There were just 11 seconds separating the first 10 riders.
On his first visit to Chang Loris Baz (GULF ALTHEA BMW Racing Team) placed 11th. American riders PJ Jacobsen (TripleM Honda World Superbike Team) and Jake Gagne (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) were 17th and 18th respectively.
In the championship, Rea is now only two points behind Melandri, 58 to 56, with Fores third on 49 points. Race two takes place at Buriram on Sunday.
2018 Thailand WorldSBK Race One Results
