Alvaro Bautista accuses Jonathan Rea of 'intentional' crash which took him out of WSBK race at Magny-Cours

Alvaro Bautista believes that title rival Jonathan Rea intentionally took him out of Race 2 at Magny-Cours, France. The Spaniard currently leads the WorldSBK standings ahead of six-time champion Rea in second. The Briton is narrowly ahead of third-placed Toprak Razgatlioglu who claimed victory on Sunday.

Ad But there was a moment of real controversy on the entry to Turn 14 when Rea went to the inside of Bautista and hit the Ducati rider, sending him off his bike and sliding into the gravel. Superbikes'My first holidays were at a racetrack, not a beach’ — Rea on ‘infectious’ love for motorbikes13/07/2022 AT 18:54 Bautista, who was forced to retire as Rea finished fifth, says his rival cannot be considered «a champion» after pulling off a manoeuvre he called «irresponsible». «I think it's very clear,» he said.

«You can watch on TV what happened. Jonathan did an irresponsible manoeuvre and he went into me, hit me and I crashed. I think it's unacceptable coming from a rider but especially coming form a great champion like him.

»I don't think it's the best way to beat other riders. We battled in the past and I've never seen this before. It's incredible how a big champion like him does this.

«It's not the way to do. He's shown the people he's fast and he won but by doing this kind of action he's not a real champion. »He has to accept what happened on the track and this year for sure he is struggling with Toprak and me, but sometimes we have to accept the situation.

«Today he didn't accept it and tried to take me out of the race. Unacceptable coming from a rider but especially coming from me it has not been a mistake, it's irresponsible on his side. I'm OK physically so let's keep the work we are doing.» Bautista believes Rea