Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea pipped Leon Haslam to the Phillip Island World Superbike race one win this morning after a titanic scrap over 22 laps which also included Ducati’s Chaz Davies with rookie Jordi Torries also in the mix.
Rea crossed the line by only 0.039s from Red Devils’ Haslam, who had to recover from a 120mph off-track experience on the exit of Stoner corner, and pass team-mate Torres and Davies in order to get back on to Rea’s rear wheel.
Haslam was significantly faster than his two rivals through the quick left-hander, using the speed for multiple passes around the outside and on the brakes into Honda but on lap 15, he nearly hit the rear of Davies, drifted wide, ran on to a narrow strip of grass, having to brake and keep watch over his shoulder so as not to collect anyone as he re-entered the track.
The Derby rider then slotted in behind Torres but took only a three laps to get back into third as Davies tried to find a way past Rea. Haslam switched tactics on lap 20 and passed Davies on the inside at Stoner but the Welshman was back past on the brakes at MG.
Haslam then put the same move again on Davies a lap later and harried Rea along the Gardner Straight. The RSV4 man then went past Rea into Doohan but the Irishman was back in front a corner later at the Southern Loop.
Rea tried to cover through Stoner but Haslam was back past. It lasted only two corners though, as Rea re-took the lead on the way up to Lukey Heights and even though Haslam got better exit drive out of the final corner, Rea’s ZX-10R just had the legs to bag the win.
Torres eventually took fourth place in his first ever WSBK race and he was followed home by fellow rookie Michael van der Mark on the Pata Honda. The Dutchman proved he isn’t in awe of anyone, assisting Tom Sykes on to the kerb on the run into Doohan on lap five.
Sykes ended up running wide and re-joined in tenth place behind three-time champion Troy Bayliss. Sykes made short work of the Ducati stand-in rider and battled back through to sixth, going past Nico Terol, himself defeated by reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli.
Voltcom Suzuki’s Alex Lowes will be disappointed with his race, finishing down in ninth place, after pushing pushed around at Honda on lap one, one place ahead of Leon Camier who hit his target of a tenth-placed finish on the MV. Bayliss ended in 13th behind Matteo Baicco and Tati Mercado, who came through from the back of the grid.
