Two podiums for Rea at Imola

Although he had to make do with seventh place in the Superpole, Jonathan Rea did well in the three races held at the Imola track. The conditions were demanding over the Italian weekend, which was marked by high temperatures. On Sunday, with temperatures in excess of 37°C, the final race even had to be shortened by four laps on the advice of WSBK medical staff. On Saturday, it was a 58° track that took its toll on both riders and machines. Fifth on the first lap of Race 1, Jonathan Rea managed to grab third place two laps later. A position that he held to the flag, to take his seventh podium of the season behind Bautista and Razgatlioglu. The following day, the six-time world champion followed up a fourth-place finish in the Superpole Race with another podium in Race 2. “I thought I would be able to do better in the Superpole Race, but starting from seventh place, it was more difficult than I imagined," commented the Kawasaki rider.

“In Race 2, the conditions were really difficult and I had big problems with my front tyre during the last third of the race. I found it hard to change direction and wasn't able to maintain the pace I would have liked. Nevertheless, I finished on the podium. It was a positive weekend and perhaps the best we've had all season.” Alex Lowes could only manage eleventh in Superpole after his fastest lap was cancelled for exceeding track limits and couldn’t do better than ninth in Race 1 and seventh in the Superpole race. He then fell in Race 2 whilst lying in fifth place. “My poor Superpole position cost me dearly,” the Briton concluded. “It's very difficult to overtake at Imola and the conditions didn't help me either.”