Jonathan Rea had two main goals before today’s race at Imola – to finish, at least, second, as Chaz Davies initially had the advantage; but the second goal was more valuable and he achieved it!

After a hard battle with Chaz Davies, Jonathan Rea took his 59th victory in race two at Imola and became equal the World Superbike win record belonging to Carl Fogarty.

Chaz Davies took the leadership in race two, when there were only 16 laps left. By then, Rea was third, and a few bends later, at Tosa, passed Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and set up the fight with the Panigale rider.

It was the battle of the tire and motorcycle limits almost throughout the whole race. Rea shadowed Davies during first 8 laps in order to attack him at Variante Alta. Since that moment, the Kawasaki rider did not look back and, giving Davies no chance to even answer back, increased his pace to 4 seconds by the finish line. Tom Sykes finished third, losing almost ten seconds to the teammate.

After finishing the race, Jonathan Rea did not hide his joy: “It was a great race! I would say, it was ideal – the best, but not the easiest one!”

Michael Rinaldi, who won the start, finished seventh after Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team), Jordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), who scored his best result of the season with the fifth place finish, and Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), who also showed his best result at Imola.

The battle between Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), unfortunately, ended up on the gravel, neither man able to return.

After Imola races the question of the fight for the title is no longer relevant:

1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) – 209 points

2. Chaz Davies (Ducati) – 162 points

3. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) – 137 points

4. Marco Melandri (Ducati) – 131 points

5. Xavi Fores (Ducati) – 124 points

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