Rea Wins Again As Melandri Strikes Out

Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) looked like he had race one at Jerez all boxed off but his one second lead over eventual winner Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) disappeared, with just a handful of laps to go, as his bike quit shortly after he had set a new lap record of 1’40.938.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was second and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) third.

The race had been shortened to 19 laps after a double crash for Badovini and De Rosa in the first attempted start at 13.00hrs, with Rea on pole this time after Melandri had won Superpole earlier in the afternoon.

Melandri swept through to the lead on lap seven, and then Davies was soon past Rea for second place.

The leading six had been scrunching up for a few laps but as the race approached half race distance Melandri made a break, as Rea and Davies battled along behind.

Melandri’s pace was such that he set a first new lap record of 1’41.067 on lap nine.

Rea, having overcome the advances of Davies after a block pass on the Ducati rider into the final corner, set about clearing away from the chasing pack, with Davies third and Sykes fourth – two Yamaha riders right behind him.

Rea got his pace up again in clean air and set a 1’41.035 for another new lap record on lap 11. It would not last as Melandri re-took the final record on lap 15.

Behind Rea, Davies pegged back some points on Sykes in the championship battle for overall second.

A strong ride from Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) saw him fourth, and just 3.6 seconds from the winner Rea, who was jubilant at his latest success, stopping his bike trackside to greet the fans.

Fifth was Michael van der Mark’s Yamaha.

The return of the 2014 king saw Sylvain Guintoli (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) put in a classy performance, albeit 11 seconds from Rea’s factory bike, finishing four seconds ahead of Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia).

Eighth place went to Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia), ninth to Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Ducati) and tenth Roman Ramos (Team GOELEVEN Kawasaki).

By Gordon Ritchie