Knockhill British Superbikes: First career double win for Jonathan Rea

HM Plant Honda’s Jonathan Rea mastered the wet conditions at Knockhill to record his first double race win of his British Superbike career. 

The Ulsterman once again repeated his success from race one to lead from pole to the chequered flag with teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari following him into the first corner in second.

By the middle of lap one Jonathan Rea had already gained more than a second over Japan’s Ryuichi Kiyonari and was managing speeds of 142mph even on a wet circuit.

Tristan Palmer was the first victim to slide out of the race at the John R Weir chicane section on lap one due to the poor conditions. Even though the rain held off for race two the track was still wet.

Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Walker took advantage of a mistake by Virgin Yamaha’s Tommy Hill to move to sixth on lap three. And it was on this lap the highest profile victim of the conditions, Gregorio Lavilla slid out of the race on his Airwaves Ducati after touching the white line and in the process slid down to third in the championship.

As Jonathan Rea extended his lead at the front to 3.142secs by lap six, Chris Walker’s pressure on Karl Harris caused the Hydrex Honda man to run wide on to the turf allowing Walker and Tommy Hill to go through at Clark’s.

Next to slide out of the race was Rizla Suzuki’s Cal Crutchlow who smashed in to the tyre barrier on lap nine. Tommy Hill was soon to follow as he came off his Yamaha at the chicane.

By lap 11 Jonathan Rea had caught the back markers and began to overtake half the field as he still continued to build on his lead.

Race one cup winner Paul Barron slid off on lap 14 at Scotsman as Leon Haslam pulled back the gap between himself and Ryuichi Kiyonari.

Leon Halsam made the move of the race at the hairpin at the end of lap 20 as he out-braked Ryuichi Kiyonari to go through in to second.

From here it was a shot gun ride to the finish with Tom Sykes (Stobart Vent Axia Honda) trying to catch Ryuichi Kiyonari while his teammate Shane Byrne was doing his best on the back of Chris Walker’s exhaust but Byrne won the battle by the end.

But Ryuichi Kiyonari held on for the final podium spot with Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam well in front of him for the top two spots.

 
British superbike race two results:

1. Jonathan Rea GBR Honda 22:56.710
2. Leon Haslam GBR Ducati + 5.858
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Honda +9.453
4. Tom Sykes GBR Honda + 9508
5. Shane Byrne GBR Honda + 14.306
6. Chris Walker GBR Suzuki + 15.171
7. Leon Camier GBR Honda + 26.730
8. Karl Harris GBR Honda + 34.846
9. Sean Emmett GBR Suzuki + 49.449
10. Ollie Bridewell GBR Suzuki + 53.371
11. Stuart Easton GBR Kawasaki 1 lap
12. Steve Plater GBR Yamaha 1 lap
13. Hudson Kennaugh RSA Yamaha 1 lap
14. Tristan Palmer GBR Honda 1 lap
15. Marty Nutt GBR Yamaha 1 lap
16. Aaron Zanotti GBR Yamaha 1 lap
17. Tommy Bridewell GBR Suzuki 1 lap
18. Malcolm Ashley GBR Kawasaki 1 lap
19. Tom Tunstall GBR Honda 1 lap
20. James Buckingham GBR Honda 2 laps

Non classified:
Paul Barron Ireland Yamaha; Paul Barron Ireland Yamaha; Cal Crutchlow GBR Suzuki; Neil Faulkner GBR Yamaha; Gregorio Lavilla ESP Ducati; Chris Martin GBR Honda