WSBK Superbike Magny-Cours Race 2: Scott Redding pushes back Jonathan Rea's title ahead of Loris Baz and Chaz Davies!

With 71 points ahead of Scott Redding, the outcome of the Superbike world championship could be decided this afternoon for Jonathan Rea, with one race and one round remaining.

For this, the Irishman should finish 3rd if his only opponent were to win, which, given the previous races, seems a simple hypothesis...
Conversely, a 100th victory for the Cannibal would give him a 6th title on a plate.

While waiting to know the outcome, the track is still wet on the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit, even if it is no longer raining.

When the red lights go out, Jonathan Rea starts from the pole position acquired during the sprint race in front of his teammate Alex Lowes, Michael Van Der Mark and Scott Redding.

Behind, at the back of the peloton, Tati Market makes a mistake.

Quickly, Scott Redding goes third while Van Der Mark vainly attempts to face the attacks of Rinaldi.

At the end of the first round, Scott Redding do the forcing and pass alex lowes.

Little by little, the Ducati rider manages to come back into contact with the Irishman, and the two men have a good lead

Scott Redding places, and succeeds, his attack in the 3rd round while Loris Baz managed to take third position.

Better still, the Frenchman is the fastest on the track and is now trying to catch up with the leading duo!

Xavi Fores makes a mistake while in the lead Scott Redding is half a second ahead of Jonathan Rhea which itself maintains a margin of one second on Loris Baz. We are now in the first third of the race.

Behind, the peloton is led by Chaz Davies before Michael Rinaldi, Michael Van Der Mark, Alex Lowes, Tom Sykes, Garrett Gerloff and Leon Haslam.

Tenth after tenth, Loris Baz returns to Jonathan Rhea and the junction is made 11 laps from the finish.

Yamaha rider Ten Kate grabs second place on the next pass and starts looking Scott Redding, 2,4 seconds ahead of him…

But for Jonathan Rhea, the danger also comes from behind with Chaz Davies which is only a second away. As a reminder, if the Kawasaki rider does not finish on the podium in the event of a victory Scott Redding, it will not be titled in France.

Loris Baz does not seem to be able to get back on Scott Redding, while conversely Chaz Davies is now in the saddle of the Kawasaki. The attack was not long in coming and there were eight laps remaining when the Welshman quickly overtook the Irishman.

From then on, the positions seemed to stabilize at the start of the last third of the race, especially as the tires began to deteriorate. However, despite some slight heat, Jonathan Rhea manages to get back into contact with the Ducati of Chaz Davies three laps from the finish, reigniting the suspense for the date of the awarding of his sixth title...

But ultimately, everyone secures their position and we will have to wait for the final in Estoril to celebrate the Cannibal's 6th title.
Splendid victory of Scott Redding on a circuit he didn't know!

Scott Redding and Loris Baz stop after the checkered flag to greet the public of French enthusiasts who, given the conditions in Nièvre, have well deserved this little gesture...

Photo and rankings: WorldSBK.com