REA SECOND AND SYKES FOURTH IN GERMANY

The second WorldSBK race of the Lausitzring weekend saw Jonathan Rea (KRT) take the runner-up spot and his team-mate Tom Sykes score a fourth place finish, meaning that the official Kawasaki riders remain 1-2 in the championship standings with four rounds to go.

The Lausitzring weekend ended the summer break in the FIM Superbike World Championship class. In scoring two second places and 40 points in the comeback weekend Rea extended his lead over his own team-mate Sykes to 70 points. Sykes’ opening day podium at Lausitz, and second day fourth place, gave him 29 points in total this weekend.

Sunday’s race in Germany saw Sykes start from seventh place on the grid and Rea eighth, under the new rules which put the podium finishers from the first race onto the third row for race two. As on day one, Chaz Davies won the race, this time by 2.290 seconds.

A good start from today Rea saw him move up to third place on lap one, then take the lead on lap five, being passed by Davies on lap 11. Sykes made a good launch from his third row grid slot but touched the bike of another rider in turn one, losing momentum. Unable to pass other riders easily in the early laps he worked his way to fourth and finished clear of a battling group of riders behind him. 

After nine rounds and 18 individual races Rea has 381 points, Sykes 311 and Davies 276. Kawasaki leads the Manufacturers’ Standings by 56 points.

Returning WorldSBK venue Portimao, in Portugal, will host the tenth round of the championship, one month from now.