Jonathan Rea wins World Superbike Championship

Race 1: 1. Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) 2.

“To come out and win the first race at Phillip Island… that is a feeling and memory that I will take with me for a long time”.

Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing) finished 7 after an encouraging start to his weekend, with Michele Pirro, on the second Aruba.it Racing Ducati entry 8th.

Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) secured a strong fifth ranking, particularly for a privateer rider, again with his best set in the morning session.

Jonathan Rea’s world title is a fitting tribute to both Joey Dunlop and his grandfather, Johnny Rea Snr, who kickstarted the dream and Rea also included his dad in his victory speech.

Rea finished behind England’s Tom Sykes, the Welshman Chaz Davies and Michael van der Mark of Holland. He rejoined to salvage three points with 13th at the flag. Unfortunately, Salom crashed out at turn one, ending his day.

He said: “It feels incredible to cap it all off here and it rewards all of the hard work of this season”.

“Right now it hasn’t sunk in”. Moments like this are even more special because of the challenges I have faced with injuries. To the point where I raced round and round my house on my bicycle commentating on my racing, pretending to be world champion.

“What a second race!” The race tyre we used at the beginning of Superpole made a really good job. In race 1, I knew that I’d have trouble in the early stages.

“This is an fantastic moment for me in my career”, said Rea after wrapping up the title.

The 2014 world champion, Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda WSB), rounded out the top ten, only 0.686 seconds from the best Friday time. But when you win with that margin at a circuit you have never won at before it’s is still good. I’ve been struggling all year with the bike, for sure we still have some limitations but we have a test tomorrow. It is great to be part of Kawasaki winning the Manufacturers’ Championship.

“I’m very happy about the result in Race 2”. With this heat it was very hard but in free practice we worked on the settings precisely in consideration of this problem. I like to ride out front, that is how I like to do it. I do not like anybody behind or in front of me – I just like to go and race the tarmac.

“In motorcycling anything can happen and I’ll just be glad to see it all over this weekend”. I managed to stay with the guys even though.