WorldSBK Phillip Island: Rea ends win drought with flag-to-flag

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. Pata Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli initially battling the KRT man before Lowes hit back and returned to the wheels of his teammate.

Motocorsa’s Axel Bassani claimed sixth from GRT Yamaha’s Garrett Gerloff as the opening lap unfolded through Lukey Heights, Honda’s Xavi Vierge, Puccetti Kawasaki’s Lucas Mahias and BMW’s Michael van der Mark completing the top ten after the initial action.

Top Independent rider Bassani was storming through to fifth next time around as Vierge climbed to seventh. Rea on the wheels of Razgatlioglu in the battle for second before the Northern Irishman capitalised at the start of lap three.

Rea was in charge by Miller Corner as his teammate set the fastest lap so far. Bautista struggling in the conditions as he dropped into the path of Razgatlioglu with Lowes narrowly behind the pair.

2021’s Champion bettered this year’s recipient before Lowes replicated the move moments later. Bautista dropping from first to fourth in the space of two laps before the Ducati,