Three men broke away this morning during the Superbike Superpole qualifying in Jerez : Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and a more unexpected Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), all grouped in 40 thousandths in front of a second row composed solely of the Yamahas of Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) and Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha).
The sky cleared and temperatures rose at the time of departure, with 36° in the air.
Jonathan Rhea rushes forward the best and takes command in front Toprak Razgatlioglu et Scott Redding.
We've waited for this moment for sooooo long! #WorldSBKreturns and Race 1 gets underway 🏁#ESPWorldSBK 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/3Pm6kuLtcs
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) August 1
No fall was to be deplored in the first lap while Loris Baz manages to double Tom Sykes and takes fourth position.
At the top, the gaps are 3/10 between the first four men who gradually manage to widen a gap.
️ @toprak_tr54 pushes hard on @jonathanrea!
The BATLLE starts NOW ⚔️#ESPWorldSBK 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZPHTHged85
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) August 1
However, Loris Baz perhaps seems to have a little difficulty keeping up with the pace and concedes 8 tenths to Scott Redding after three laps, at which point Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) makes a mistake.
Nightmare for Cariscaulo! 😱#ESPWorldSBK 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/uOGHOIpzfY
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) August 1
The platoon is led by Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) while Tom Sykes slowed down on the fourth lap before returning to his box on the next lap.
In front, the positions are stabilized but Chaz Davies manages to get out of the peloton and sets off in pursuit of the leading group. The Briton is running in the 1'41s, just like the quartet in front of him.
12 laps from the checkered flag, Michael Van Der Mark retires following an engine problem on his Yamaha.
In the leading group, Loris Baz doesn't give up and manages to stay half a second behind the trio Rea/Razgatlioglu/Redding.
3️⃣ riders and just 1 top position🏆
🤔 We've seen this battle before…#ESPWorldSBK 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/2i3aLMLeTU
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) August 1
With nine laps to go, Scott Redding takes the best of the official Yamaha while, obviously much further, Tom Sykes gets back on track.
The pilots fight by hundredths of a second but Scott Redding carries out his attack, victorious, six laps from the finish.
DOWN THE INSIDE goes @Reddingpower 😯@ArubaRacing overtakes @toprak_tr54 and starts the hunt for the victory! #ESPWorldSBK🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/Wt251SkdqD
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) August 1
During this maneuver, Chaz Davies made the connection with Loris Baz...
Jonathan Rhea tries to respond by expanding the Ducati rider, but this only tightens the group now made up of five riders.
5 to go, 5 riders could win🏆
Place your bets, nothing is decided yet! #ESPWorldSBK 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/1LDmciUmCF
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) August 1
Chaz Davies makes its first attack on Loris Baz but he manages to push her away.
Thanks to the power of his Ducati, the Welshman managed to overtake the Frenchman on the straight on the following lap while his teammate managed to create a gap of 7/10 on the official Kawasaki two laps from the finish...
The last two turns are characterized by attacks from Chaz Davies on Toprak Razgatlioglu but the Turk retains his place on the podium at the cost of great mastery.
After his first pole position, Scott Redding wins his first Superbike victory at the Jerez circuit.
IT’S A ROOKIE WIN!🏆@Reddingpower makes it four different winners from the first four races, the first time that has happened since 2004!#ESPWorldSBK 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/8z2rYaVBBb
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) August 1
Ranking Race 1 Superbike in Jerez:
Classification credit: Worldsbk.com / Dorna
