WorldSBK Estoril: Rea on point in Portugal

Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea claimed the final WorldSBK victory at Estoril after a race-long battle with his leading rivals.

Aruba.it Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista took the fight to the flag in a dramatic final lap with Pata Yamaha’s Toprak Razgatlioglu completing another podium as the dominant trio maintained their advantage over the pack.

Rea lined up on pole once again after his Superpole sprint win on Sunday morning. Razgatlioglu and Bautista alongside once more with the Portuguese track dry and improved on the earlier mixed conditions despite the potential of rain continuing to threaten.

Razgatlioglu was off the line first as he headed the pack through the opening corner, Rea sitting second with Bautista defending but losing out to Andrea Locatelli on the second Pata as the Italian launched from fifth to third.

Bautista then Iker Lecuona bettered the R1 as the lap concluded with KRT’s Alex Lowes holding sixth from the second Aruba and Honda machines of Michael Rinaldi and Xavi Vierge. Lowes continued to climb a he captured both Locatelli and Lecuona for fourth as lap two played out, The Kawasaki running fastest man on track with three-tenths to bridge to the podium and spots of rain beginning to fall.

Rea held a two-tenth lead as his teammate tried to find a way through the Ducati for the final podium position. The move coming as lap three concluded with three-tenths already built as he pushed past the Panigale.

Redding dropped tot he edge of the top ten as the race bedded in, Loris Baz over a second behind with Axel Bassani ahead.

The home straight switch between Rea and Razgatlioglu continued as lap four concluded, the Northern Irishman maintaining control as the lap unfolded with Lowes on the wheels of the battling pair.