Rea eases to lights-to-flag victory in Misano opener

Full WorldSBK race one results from Misano

Jonathan Rea has once again dominated to take a ninth win of the season in the opening Misano race with a flawless performance.

The Kawasaki rider produced the perfect getaway to bolt into the lead ahead of pole-sitter Tom Sykes going into the first turn and rarely looked challenged across the 21-lap race. With Rea comfortable out in front he extends his championship lead to 80 points over Chaz Davies who claimed second place ahead of Eugene Laverty.

Laverty, who darted past Sykes at the start of lap four, was able to keep a useful time gap to Chaz Davies chasing on the Aruba.it Racing Ducati until he ran wide at the final corner on lap 15 which allowed the Welsh rider to blast past into second.

The Milwaukee Aprilia rider recovered from the slide wide, triggered by a broken sensor, but held on to third place ahead of Pata Yamaha’s Michael van der Mark who impressed having fought his way up from 11^th on the grid.

Despite starting from pole, it was another difficult race for Sykes who slipped down the order as the race progressed to finish in fifth place but did keep clear of Xavi Fores on the Barni Ducati.

It was a frustrating race for Marco Melandri who was once again off the pace in seventh place on the factory Ducati but did beat fellow Italian Lorenzo Savadori on the Milwaukee Aprilia who suffered a late race fade.

Leon Camier got the Red Bull Honda home in ninth place as Leandro Mercado rounded out the top 10 for Orelac Racing Kawasaki.

Toprak Razgatlioglu battled back from a broken toe suffered in a heavy crash at Laguna Seca last month to take 11^th on the Puccetti Kawasaki. Pata Yamaha wildcard rider Niccolo Canepa grabbed points in 12^th place as Roman Ramos (Team GoEleven Kawasaki), Jake Gagne (Red Bull Honda) and Alessandro Andreozzi (Guandalini Yamaha) completed the points places.

Alex Lowes, Yonny Hernandez and Loris Baz all crashed out of the Misano opener.