There was plenty of action as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship resumed at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto with Race 2 on Sunday, with Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team GOELEVEN) providing his own as he battled his way through the field. Having started in 12^th place, he fought past Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Lowes’ KRT teammate, Jonathan Rea to claim fourth in the Pirelli Spanish Round.

The result equalled Rinaldi’s best ever WorldSBK finish, which he achieved in 2019 – also in Race 2 at Jerez. While the 2019 race had plenty of spills Rinaldi was able to benefit from, the 2020 result was down to the pace of Rinaldi onboard his Ducati Panigale V4 R as he made up eight positions in Race 2, including an ambitious move on five-time Champion Rea.

Reacting to his race, Rinaldi said: “I’m really happy to be in fourth position after a good race starting from 12^th on the grid. It was not easy to overtake other riders. Our pace was great but unfortunately starting from the fourth row compromised the race. When I see Toprak was 2.5s ahead I pushed as much as I can because for Ducati, having three Ducatis on the podium would be a dream. We are getting closer, but we have to improve the grip and when the rider can go fast, and we can’t.”

Rinaldi’s pace will give him and Team GOELEVEN optimism for another superb result as WorldSBK action moves to Portimao for the MOTUL Portuguese Round in just under a week’s time. It is a track he has raced at on five occasions in WorldSBK with a best result of eighth, coming in Race 2 from 2018.

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