WSB: Rea out for the double in Misano

Jonathan Rea is setting his sights on a double victory as the second half of the World Superbike season gets underway at Misano this weekend.

The Ulsterman was left to walk away from his home round at Donington Park without a win with Tom Sykes taking the honours, but still holds a commanding 56 point championship leader over his team-mate.

After a successful test at Jerez straight after the Donington round, Rea is confident he’s found a strong base setting with the Kawasaki ZX-10R and will be looking to consolidate that strong lead in the title standings as he looks to become the first World Champion to successfully defend their crown since Carl Fogarty in the 1990s.   

“Misano is a circuit that I really enjoy and it has special memories for me because I won my first ever WorldSBK race there, and last year we were able to make a 1-2,” said Rea. “I am also excited to race there because it seems like in the last rounds we have been doing a very good job. Although we did not get a race win at Donington I feel like I rode really strongly. We had a productive two-day test in Jerez after that in which we were able to test some things for the future but also confirmed that the direction we have been going in at Sepang and Donington with bike set-up seems to be the right way. I think we can be confident that we have found a good base with the 2016 Ninja ZX-10R. I am going to Misano to try to win both races because it has been a few rounds now since I have stood on the top step of the podium.”