The WorldSBK returned this past weekend, after the stop from the covid-19. The Kawasaki Racing Team did not miss the opportunity to demonstrate their good shape.
The races also return to the WorldSBK championship. The Kawasaki Racing Team riders have prepared for the return, held this weekend at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit. Temperatures reached 34 Celsius degrees during the FP2 but, despite the harsh conditions, Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes finished the first day in second and tenth position, respectively. Rea was less than a second from the fastest driver, a great sign of the result that was coming.
More than five months later, last Saturday, August 1, the first post-covid-19 race was held. Australia left Lowes as the leader of a season that will probably be remembered by everyone, fans and riders . On Sunday, the 10-lap sprint race was held to end the day with the second race, scheduled for 20 laps. Before the races, the FP3 session and then the Superpole took place, which decided the grid positions for the race one and the Superpole race.
The first race was largely led by Jonathan Rea, rider of the Kawasaki Racing Team. A total of 23 pilots took the start of the first race in Jerez, under a hot sun that raised the track temperature to 60 Celsius degrees. Rea led for 15 laps until, with the tire on the limit, he had to conserve to defend other victories. Alex Lowes finished in ninth position which leaves him in second position in the general standings, just ahead of his teammate Rea.
The Superpole was different. Jonathan Rea managed to qualify in second position with his Ninja and ended up scoring Sunday's victory in this event. The ‘sprint’ race was held at 11 am and he fought to finish within 0.55 seconds of Scott Redding, enough to clinch his 90th WorldSBK victory. A historical record since Rea joined the Kawasaki team in 2015. Alex could not find his rhythm in the Superpole and had to settle for a seventh place.
The second race, held after the ‘sprint’, served to switch roles. Alex Lowes stayed behind Rea until, he finally overtook him to be on the second step of the podium. Jonathan finished this last round in sixth place, which allowed him to keep the second place in the final standings, followed by Lowes and 14 points behind Redding.
The Superbikes return next weekend in Portugal with a new round of racing from the 7th to 9th August.
First podium for Ana Carrasco
Good news also followed Ana Carrasco's Kawasaki Provec team at the WSSP300. The rider maintained an excellent pace throughout the weekend, fighting for the podium in the first race in Jerez de la Frontera. After a contact with another driver, Carrasco finished seventh in the first race. A result that she could make up for on Sunday, starting from fourth on the grid thanks to the result achieved in Saturday's Superpole. Ana Carrasco set the fastest lap of the race trying to reach the first two but ended up crossing the finish line in third position. Finally, Race Direction banned the second with five seconds for exceeding the limits of the track. A penalty that moved her to the second place and that she herself recognized: “This second position is very important for the championship and I want to thank the team and all the sponsors because they have worked so hard throughout this difficult period to be here today. "
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