News

The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is seeing records tumble and that continued into the Tissot Czech Round at the Autodrom Most, Czech Republic. WorldSBK’s first visit to the track will be in the history books as Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) achieved a staggering 200^th podium in WorldSBK’s Tissot Superpole Race, the first rider in WorldSBK history to do so. The top five has it all from comebacks and saves, to making his mark and setting records.

5.) Down but not out: Misano Race 1, 2021 – 3^rd

2021’s first of two appearances on the list, Jonathan Rea’s first of numerous saves throughout the campaign so far. The Ulsterman was in second place when he had a massive front-end slide at Turn 1 at Misano. Somehow, he kept the bike upright on his knee and took to the grass, allowing Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) into second whilst Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) went on to win. Staying on after a save like that could be a victory in its own right.

4.) Denied the dream comeback: Phillip Island Race 2, 2018 – 2^nd

2018’s season didn’t get off to a great start for Jonathan Rea, as he suffered a motocross crash preseason which left him needing surgery on his right hand just three weeks before the opening round at Phillip Island. Then, in Race 1, he was only able to finish fifth after a drop in rear tyre performance. It looked like he bounced back in style in Race 2 and led out of the final corner, only for Ducati’s Marco Melandri to blast ahead to win, denying Rea, who took a first podium of 2018.

3.) Save after save: Donington Park Race 1, 2021 – 2^nd

A modern tale of course makes the list and Race 1 at Donington Park in 2021 was an astounding race for Rea, who would eventually finish second aboard the Kawasaki ZX-10RR. However, there were plenty of times when he could’ve been off the bike all together, as he suffered not one, not two, not even three, but four enormous moments that for most other riders, would’ve spelt disaster. He even went grass-tracking at Craner Curves!  However, Rea’s stayed upright, bringing it home for second.

2.) The first is the sweetest: Kyalami Race 2, 2009 – 3rd

When Jonathan Rea burst onto the WorldSBK scene full-time in 2009, it was clear that it wouldn’t take long until he got his first podium. Well, in Race 2 in South Africa at the phenomenal Kyalami circuit, Rea finally managed to step on the box, having beaten Max Biaggi in Race 1 to equal his previous best finish of fourth. Race 2 saw him go one better, triumphing in a battle between himself, Biaggi and Leon Haslam, finally getting himself and the Ten Kate outfit on the rostrum.

1.) Second for a second: Losail Race 1, 2016 – 2^nd

Jonathan Rea’s trademark quality is to play the long game; he is never flustered, and he trusts the process put together by his tightly knit KRT squad. That was evident in Race 1 of 2016, when he was leading the Championship but needed to mathematically wrap it up. With title-challenging teammate Tom Sykes on his tale and Ducati’s Chaz Davies out ahead, Rea was cruised home for second, to clinch his second World Superbike crown. The master tactician reigned supreme again.

Follow all of the drama throughout the remainder of the season with the WorldSBK VideoPass!