WSB: History-maker Rea crowned 2017 World Champion

History was made this afternoon in Magny Cours as Jonathan Rea became the first rider to win three consecutive World Superbike titles.

The Ulsterman has been unbeaten since joining Kawasaki in 2015, and clinched his third crown in dominant style in wet conditions in Magny Cours with two and a half rounds remaining.

Shooting off the line from pole, Rea had pulled a two second gap on his rivals by the end of the second lap and continued to stretch it out throughout the race to command from the front for another lights to flag victory for his 50th WSB win, gaining the points he needed over rival and team-mate Tom Sykes to clinch the crown, who lost out to Marco Melandri on the last lap to finish third. 

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Rea has dominated the 2017 season, taking 12 victories and has been on the podium in every other race except when his tyre failed in the opening encounter at Donington Park.

The victory sees him become the joint-second most successful rider in World Superbike history as he joins Troy Bayliss with three WSB crowns to his name, just one less than Fogarty.

Rea is now just three victories away from overtaking Bayliss in the all-time race win rankings and nine off Carl Fogarty’s record. 

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