Oulton Park British Superbikes: Jonathan Rea recovers to win race two

HM Plant Honda’s Jonathan Rea recovered from a massive race one crash to storm to victory in the second British Superbikes’ race at Oulton Park this afternoon.

The Ulsterman lost an early lead, which he took from his pole position to teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari. And he looked happy enough with second as he kept checking over his shoulder to guarantee him secure points in the championship.

But on lap four Ryuichi Kiyonari crashed out at Druids in an almost exact repeat of Jonathan Rea’s race one crash to see the 20-year-old retake the lead. Hydrex Honda’s Karl Harris slipped in to second place from third following Kiyonari’s crash and rode solidly through the mist.

Rizla Suzuki’s luck seems to be running as thin as ever as young rider Cal Crutchlow pulled in to the pits on lap three to retire and veteran Chris Walker crashed out on lap nine at Lodge with Stobart Vent Axia Honda’s Shane Byrne happy to take his place.

But Walker’s experience saw him restart his bike with a little help from the marshals at Oulton Park to climb his way back from 11th to finish eighth.

Another comeback kid of the day was Airwaves Ducati’s Leon Haslam. The 24-year-old seemed to be struggling with his machine and put his hand up to signal the end of the race on lap six. But luck must have been on his side as the problem corrected itself and Haslam was able to fight back to fourth.

Jonathan Rea held on in the still wet conditions, despite the fact the rain had stopped, for the victory by more than 12 seconds over an emotional Karl Harris on his Hydrex Honda while Shane Byrne made it 23 career podiums in third.

After the race Jonathan Rea said: “The first race I thought everything had ended. Kiyo was just gone and I think it was just when something was going to happen.

“My Honda never missed a beat. It’s the longest race ever when you’re on your own.”

British Superbikes race two results:

1. Jonathan Rea GBR Honda 24:33.750
2. Karl Harris GBR Honda + 12.103
3. Shane Byrne GBR Honda + 19.949
4. Leon Haslam GBR Ducati + 26.780
5. Leon Camier GBR Honda + 29.256
6. Tom Sykes GBR Honda + 51.584
7. Michael Rutter GBR Kawasaki + 1:00.028
8. Chris Walker GBR Suzuki + 1:10.681
9. Ollie Bridewell GBR Suzuki + 1:13.025
10. Gregorio Lavilla ESP Ducati + 1:14.807
11. Scott Smart GBR Kawasaki + 1:29.359
12. Tristan Palmer GBR Honda + 1:32.376
13. Peter Hickman GBR Kawasaki + 1:37.244
14. Tom Tunstall GBR Honda 1 lap
15. Marty Nutt GBR Yamaha 1 lap
16. James Buckingham GBR Honda 1 lap