[WSBK] Race 2 at Portimao: Johnny Rea holds off Michael van der Mark

It was with indescribable joy that the French supporters awaited the start of this second Portuguese round due to the presence of Loris Baz on the front line. This consisted of Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Loris Baz (Gulf Althea BMW Racing Team), while the second included Jordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse ), Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) under the eyes of his manager Kenan Sofuoglu, and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). The focus of attention was Jordi Torres, who will replace Tito Rabat on the Ducati Avintia next week in Aragon in MotoGP following Christophe Ponsson.

The third row included the three men on the podium from the first round: Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team).

The fastest to start was Chaz Davies ahead of Tom Sykes, Toprak Razgatlioglu, Johnny Rea, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Marco Melandri, Michael van der Mark and Loris Baz. Davies and Sykes were trying to open up a gap on Rea, who was 0.9 behind in third. Three Ducatis were opposed to two Kawasakis, with Davies, Sykes, Rea, Melandri and Rinaldi. Baz remained in eighth position.

Rea quickly returned to Sykes and attacked him, while Davies retained the lead. Then Rea overtook his teammate and launched an attack on the Welsh leader's Panigale. Van der Mark progressed and moved to fifth after overtaking Rinaldi. Melandri stole the third step of the provisional podium from Sykes.

Rea was pushing hard in second position, and with the best time in the race so far in 1'42.503, he quickly closed on Davies. Van der Mark moved into fourth position after overtaking Sykes.

Rea attacked Davies for first place at the halfway point, but Chaz defended very well. Melandri third was closing in very slightly. Rea took the lead, but Davies passed him again shortly after, while Melandri joined the group of the two leaders.

Davies, Rea and Melandri battling it out had to be wary of van der Mark who was gradually closing in and was less than a second behind them as the checkered flag approached.

Rea regained the advantage in front of the two Ducatis, now closely held by the Yamaha. Then van der Mark moved into second behind Rea, and ahead of Melandri and Davies. Toprak Razgatlioglu fell without gravity.

Rea was getting slightly closer (0.6) to Rea, while the two Ducatis of Melandri (0.9) and especially Chaz Davies (2.1) were struggling to follow. Loris Baz was ninth just behind Eugene Laverty.

Michael van der Mark and his Yamaha resisted as best they could, but could not prevent Johnny Rea from taking his 66th victory in the Superbike World Championship. Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies completed the leading quartet, while Tom Sykes finished fifth and Loris Baz ninth.

Race 2 results:

Provisional ranking of the World Championship:

Photos © Kawasaki / Yamaha