Rea breaks season points record

Jonathan Rea of Great Britain in action WORLD Superbike champion Jonathan Rea made it a double win from the final round of the season in Qatar and with it broke the record for the most points in a season.

The Northern Irishman, who wrapped up his third successive title at Magny-Cours in September, dominated from start to finish to win Friday’s first race before riding his Kawasaki to victory from the third row of the grid yesterday.

Rea finished ahead of Chaz Davies (Ducati) and Alex Lowes (Yamaha) for an all-British podium at Losail.

The 30-year-old’s win means he ends the season with 16 victories, 24 podiums and a total of 556 points, surpassing 2002 champion Colin Edwards’ previous record haul of 552.

Welshman Davies had a great start but Rea took control from the fourth lap and never looked back, while Davies overcame a wobble to claim second place in the championship standings after nearest rival Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) crashed out on lap three.

BMW’s Jordi Torres suffered a big crash at Turn 5 and ended the race in the gravel with confirmation - after being taken to the medical centre for checks - that he had sustained a right hip contusion.

Lowes’ team-mate Michael van der Mark finished fourth ahead of Ducati duo Xavi Fores and Marco Melandri, while Ireland’s Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) came home seventh. Sylvain Guintoli (Kawasaki) was eighth, while Leon Camier completed his last race with MV Agusta Reparto Corse in ninth place, just ahead of Roman Ramos (Kawasaki) who rounded off the top 10.