British racing star Jonathan Rea celebrates on the podium after winning the last race of the 2019 WorldSBK Championship at the Losail International Circuit yesterday.
British racing star Jonathan Rea yesterday produced a slick riding session to win the last race of the 2019 WorldSBK Championship, ending the season with another podium at Losail International Circuit (LIC).
A day after helping Kawasaki seal the manufacturer’s title, a determined Rea ended the 17-lap night race ahead of compatriot Chaz Davies (Ducati, Panigale V4 R, + 2.978s) and WorldSBK debutant Alvaro Baustia (Ducati, + 3.100s) in a time of 33’34.809.
Yamaha’s Alex Lowes (+12.473s), Turkey’s rising star Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki, +14.346s) Eugene Laverty (Ducati, +15.109s) completed the top six out of 18 riders who finished the final race of the season.
Rea, who had also clinched the superpole earlier in the day, was the toast of 7,465 fans as he rarely looked in trouble in Race 2, finishing it a convincing 2.978 seconds ahead of Davies.
Yesterday’s win was 17th win of the season for the indomitable Briton now considered the man to beat in the 2020 season that will kick off next February.
Rea said he was keen to wind up the year 2019 with a win before heading into the off-season. The affable Briton had one big reason to do so - his sick grandmother.
“I wanted that race victory so badly. My nana is not so well. I texted her this morning and told her ‘watch the race, because I am going to win the race for you’,” Rea revealed after the race yesterday.
“It gave me so motivation to not take lightly even one lap of the race, just go all in from the first lap. That one is for you nana,” he said with a smile.
The Kawasaki star didn’t forget to applaud his team for preparing ‘an incredible bike’.
“Thanks to my team for giving me an incredible bike. We changed the bike race to race massively. So looks like our bikes are working in a huge window,” Rea said.
“I achieved a massive target of mine in my career, which was to finish every single race in the season. We did that, so I am immensely proud. I couldn’t have done that without the incredible team and support of my family, so thank you very much to all of them,” he added.
Earlier yesterday, French riding star Lucas Mahias eased to a win in the final round of the World Supersport class as compatriot Jules Cluzel (Yamaha, +0.868s) finished in second spot. Mahias clocked a winning time of 30’43.175 in the 15-lap race.
Spanish rider Isaac Vinales (Kallio Racing Yamaha, +3.332s) secured the third spot in the 80km tussle while Italy’s Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros Yamaha, +8.033s) and his Swiss stablemate Randy Krummenacher (+8.430s) sealed the world championship title in fifth spot.
Mahias, who had broken clear at the front at the start, posted his a third consecutive win at LIC, ahead of Cluzel in second and Vinales in third – a third consecutive podium for the Spaniard.
In the chasing Championship battle, Caricasulo was fourth whilst Krummenacher was fifth, enough to give him the WorldSSP Championship in 2019.
“This feeling is so great,” Krummenacher said after clinching the world title.
“I’ve been working for 24 years to achieve this goal. It is such a big thing that I still quite can’t realize it. I am thankful to all the people who have supported me, to my family that stayed behind me even on the bad days, they pushed me to win. Thank you!,” Krummenacher added.
“I like this track, you know. I don’t know why, But it is perfect for my style, for keeping speed at the corners. In the beginning I will pull one rider from the championship. If riders fight for championship it is not my problem. I know I had a better rate. I tried to save my rear tyre. Overtaking and braking is not my style. I tried to push on as I didn’t know how many riders were chasing me. I kept pushing as I won the race for me and my team Kawasaki,” Mahias said yesterday.
Cluzel said: “I was looking strong but I was missing something. I knew at the end of the race, my position was the same at the end even though I was getting faster. But I was missing the grip from the beginning of the race, even in qualifying. I was qualifying in third, It was good but no satisfaction. I tell myself the championship is run in races not one. I was not going to be the world championship but to win the race. I didn’t succeed but I have not regrets.” Third-placed Vinales said: “I come here with Moto2 bike. It is like a new bike. I tried to make my best and finally I was on the podium.”
Qatar’s Saeed Al Sulaiti (QMMF Racing Team, Yamaha +39.391s) finished in 17th spot out of 22 riders.
