In Superpole qualifying, held shortly before Race One to determine the final grid positions, Rea was fifth fastest and Lowes eighth, with both hampered slightly in their final lap on fresh qualifying tyres. Jonathan launched from the second row of the grid and Lowes started from the third row, albeit gaining one place to seventh after another rider received a penalty.
Race One was reduced to 20 laps not the scheduled 21 after a track technical issue arose just as the riders were formed up on the grid and the start had to be delayed for a short time.
Rea fought with his team-mate Lowes and pole-sitter Garrett Gerloff in the early laps but he ended up in an almost solitary race to earn his 12th podium of the season. Rea would take over third place on lap five and would retain that position at the flag.
Rea had hopes of fighting for more than third place but the eventual leading duo of Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael Ruben Rinaldi gradually pulled away, leaving Rea to use all his considerable experience to claim yet another record-extending WorldSBK podium finish.
Lowes had some committed passing and re-passing encounters with his team-mate Rea until the six-times champion eased away from him. On the final two laps Alex suddenly lost some points due to an unexpected technical issue with his machine. He went from a long-standing fourth to an eventual eighth at the flag.
After the excitement and occasional high-drama of the opening race there will be two more points scoring opportunities for Rea and Lowes on Sunday 10 September. The ten-lap Tissot Superpole Race and a 21-lap Race Two will complete the race action in the WorldSBK category this weekend.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “In Superpole I got held up while using my second qualifying tyre in the last sector. The start was OK, but I almost crashed at Turn Five on the first lap. My knee is painful now because I dug my knee in so hard that the leathers sort of pulled around my knee. That created a kind a burn on the skin. I was lucky to stay on. Then I made some more mistakes, pushing the front when trying to catch up. When I went through on Alex and the BMWs I was then able to try and go with Michael and Toprak. I gained some tenths, but I was not really catching them. Then in the last part of the race they were able to keep the rhythm and I dropped into the 1’38s. I was struggling to turn the bike as soon as the grip was reduced and I couldn’t load the front. So there are some areas we need to improve for tomorrow.”
Alex Lowes, stated: “I was disappointed in Superpole when I put the SCQ tyre in the rear. I just struggled with the bike pushing into corners. I am disappointed not to do better in qualifying. But, it was the best lap I have done here, so the game is just moving on. I think I could have done a better job but I got held up on my best lap and maybe I could have been a tenth or two quicker and got on the second row. I felt good on the bike in the race, even starting from the third row, and I passed a few guys. I felt quite confident with the front of the bike, even though it was a hot race. I was sticking with Johnny, then made a little mistake and he got away. I was keeping the gap the same but then, with a couple of laps to go, we had an issue on the bike that slowed us down. I was able to bring it home. When it was so close to the end the job was more or less done to take a good fourth place - so it was just a shame that we couldn’t keep the position. The bike has been ultra-reliable since I joined Kawasaki, so a small issue today was unlucky. We have tomorrow to go again and keep building it up.”
Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) ended his home Superpole qualifying contest in 18th position, with Isaac Vinales (TPR by Vinales Racing Kawasaki) 23rd and Oliver König (Orelac Racing Movisio Kawasaki) 24th.
In the opening race of the weekend, Mahias was 19th, Konig 20th, but the luckless Vinales had to retire after pitting with a technical issue.
2023 KRT Rider WorldSBK Statistics
Jonathan Rea: World Champion 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020
2023: Races 25, Wins 1, Podiums 11, Superpoles 1
Career Race Wins: 119 (104 for Kawasaki)
Career Podiums: 257 (215 for Kawasaki)
Career Poles: 41 (37 for Kawasaki)
Alex Lowes:
2023: Races: 25, Wins 0, Podiums 1, Superpoles 0
Career Race Wins: 2 (1 for Kawasaki)
Career Podiums: 34 (14 for Kawasaki)
Career Poles: 1 (0 for Kawasaki)
8 x Riders’ Championships (Scott Russell 1993, Tom Sykes 2013, Rea 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020), 1 x EVO Riders’ Championship (David Salom 2014)
6 x Manufacturers’ Championships (Ninja ZX-10R 2015 & 2016, Ninja ZX-10RR 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020)
5 x Teams’ Championships (KRT/Provec Racing 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019)
Kawasaki FIM Superbike World Championship Statistics
Total Kawasaki Race Wins: 178 – second overall
Total Kawasaki Podiums: 536 – second overall
Total Kawasaki Poles: 106 – second overall
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