Rea on track to top spot
JONATHAN REA took his first win of the Superbike season at race one in Thailand yesterday.
Rea eased to victory at the circuit in Buriram, easing away from Spaniard Xavi Fores to take the flag by 1.5secs. Welshman Chaz Davies was third.
But the triple world champion from Northern Ireland admits he is working hard to replicate his brilliance from last season when he dominated the championship with 16 wins from 26 races. His form led to him finishing second in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
“I don’t have that relationship with my bike I had last year, when I felt I could do anything with it that I liked,” said Rea after the win. “This year is really hard work but the team are working so hard to give me the best bike that they can.
Record
“That was a tough race and Xavi really kept me honest but it was important that I go out and stamp my authority on proceedings.”
Rea now has 55 World Superbike wins, four short of Carl Fogarty’s record.
The Kawasaki rider is aiming to equal Fogarty’s record of four titles – although the Englishman’s series successes did not all come in consecutive seasons.
Rea trails Marco Melandri, a double winner at the opening round at Phillip Island, by two points at the top of the standings.
Italian Melandri, who started from seventh after a crash in Superpole, could only manage eighth.