Superbikes | Round Navarra, Race1: Redding wins over Rea

The Circuito de Navarra hosts for the first time in its history a MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship race valid for the Pirelli Navarra Round. The victory goes to Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who takes home the second consecutive success and the ninth of his career, thus reducing the gap that separates him from the leader of the standings Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). There are now 45 points between the two.

LOTS OF FIGHT AT THE START
At the start Redding overtakes poleman Rea at turn 1 but the world champion responds at turn 6-7 and moves back to the front. In the early stages of the race, rookie Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) is also a great protagonist.
At the start of the sixth lap Redding comes out of the hairpin at turn 15 better and overtakes Rea arriving at the very fast turn 1. The English driver then puts over a second between himself and Rea.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) also started well, starting from eighth place and moving into fourth position behind his teammate Locatelli. He spent several laps behind the Lombard before passing him on lap seven with Locatelli finishing wide.

MANY CHALLENGES ON THE TRACK
Rea is second but makes two big mistakes at turn 9 in the second half of the race. His gap from Redding thus rises beyond two seconds but he still manages to precede Razgatlioglu, thus bringing his lead in the standings over the Turk to seven points.
Many fiery challenges on the track with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) finishing fifth behind Redding, Rea, Razgatlioglu and Locatelli, putting Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Michael van der Mark behind him.
Great duel in the final stages of the race between Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) who finished eighth and ninth respectively. Tenth position for Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) at the end of a difficult Race 1.
Rookie Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) is 11th and places himself behind Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team), Leon Haslam (Team HRC), Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Action) – who thus returns to the points he was missing from the Race 2 at MotorLand Aragon – while closing out the points is Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport – Yamaha), who crashed at turn 3 after a contact with Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) during the third lap. The Argentine was forced to retire.

THE OTHER CLASSIFIED…
Just outside the points zone is the Suzuki wildcard Naomichi Uramoto (JEG Racing) who finishes the race two tenths behind Ponsson, putting Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) and the Frenchman's teammate Jayson Uribe behind him; the American fell during the 13th lap at turn 13 but managed to get back on his bike.

OTHER NOTES…
Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) crashed at turn 11. Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) fell at turn 9 while the same fate befell Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) at turn 12 before returning to the pits.
These are the top six from Race 1 in Navarra, for all the results click here:

1. Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +2.519
3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) +5.894
4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) +9.405
5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +16.219
6. Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +20.600

Fast lap Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1'37.351