Strategy secured a long-awaited victory for Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea as he claimed the WorldSBK race one honours at Phillip Island. Rea climbed to the top step of the rostrum for the first time since Estoril after a mid-race swap to slick Pirellis.
Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu and KRT teammate Alex Lowes completing the celebrations after the flag-to-flag action. The sun made an appearance over a wet Phillip Island track as race one prepared.
Aruba.it Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista heading the Superbike grid with Rea and Lowes alongside, the track expected to dry quickly in the high winds and improving conditions.
Lights out for 22 laps and it was Bautista from Razgatlioglu at the head of the pack as Lowes slipped back to fifth with a poor start.