WorldSBK Estoril: ‘It’s every man for himself’ - Rea

After being beaten into third place in the first WorldSBK race at Estoril, KRT’s Jonathan Rea came back strongly on Sunday to leave with two winner’s trophies.

He got a bit lucky in the Superpole race, by his own admission, but he dragged out all his experience to take the second race win away from Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista with an extravagant block pass that showed all his racecraft and his legendary desire to win every race.

It was another Rea classic victory, but when asked if it was his favourite win, he replied: “I don’t know. I don’t have really a best race, but it’s amazing,” he confirmed. “It’s basically a last-lap battle with Alvaro, when he’s been so strong here. So, it means a lot. But the best one, I don’t know. I have a lot.”

He says this with no hint of boasting. But, more importantly for him, was the fact that Bautista was so close at the end that Rea could make his successful move. It had not always been thus with Bautista on a Ducati.

The points leader had taken a lead on the last lap that looked irrecoverable for Rea, but unlike the first year Alvaro arrived and dominated almost immediately, Rea was able to be in a position to win. And move to within 17 points of the championship lead. Which pleased Rea, no end.

“Especially to reduce for the championship gap already,” he explained. “But the way we were doing it in 2019 felt in some of the strong races where he was strong, like we had no chance. I don’t see that like this this year. I see that we can fight, race-by-race. This has never been a great circuit for us. Last year I won here only because of the right tyre choice for the conditions. This year I felt we were on the same playing field as everyone and we were still able to do a good job. So, I feel