WorldSBK Catalunya: Rea salvages podium with ‘almost a completely new bike’

As we have all learned via six world championships and record tallies in almost every significant statistical WorldSBK measurement, you can never write off Jonathan Rea and KRT.

But after being pushed wide at the start of race one in Catalunya, he was down in seventh place early on. He said his eventual second place was more with other riders losing their pace and Rea controlling his. That was the secret to a podium ride that looked anything like that early on.

As the long races at Catalunya were always going to be about tyres - in dry conditions at least - it is no surprise that preparation, strategy and tactics all intermingled to help Rea help himself, after he had displayed the requisite amount of that elusive quality in motorcycle racers, patience.

“It was for sure a strategy race,” Rea told bikesportnews.com after taking second place and a silver version of Catalunya’s unique four pillared trophies. “It was funny. I was just talking to Garret (Gerloff) there about managing the tyres. We know this circuit is really tough for managing the tyre. Rinaldi released the brake in turn one, and unfortunately Locatelli was on the outside of me as well.

“So, Rinaldi hit me. I touched Locatelli, and he went wide. I found myself P7, maybe? So, I thought for fuck’s sake - again. A lot of work to do. My start was good. It was good until I thought, it’s turn one. Everyone is in fifth gear. Relax.”

Until he was touched, ran wide and then had a seemingly mammoth recovery job ongoing. “Then just step by step, I was calm. I felt like Toprak and Alvaro are gone. Thinking about a podium today… Then I didn’t go faster. Them guys just came back. A podium is maybe possible. Don’t give up. I said, ‘Toprak is not going.’ Maybe second is