eni FIM Superbike World Championship

Circuito de Jerez, Spain

September 20, 2015

Race One Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Tom SYKES, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 20 laps, Total Race Time 34:14.685, Fastest Lap Time 1:41.159

2. Chaz DAVIES, UK (Ducati Panigale R), -2.865 seconds, 1:41.972

3. Michael VD MARK, Netherlands (Honda CBR1000RR SP), -6.665, 1:41.836

4. Jonathan REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -9.059, 1:41.136

5. Leon HASLAM, UK (Aprilia RSV4 RF), -9.318, 1:41.823

6. Michele PIRRO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), -10.466, 1:41.797

7. Alex LOWES, UK (Suzuki GSX-R1000), -15.945, 1:42.004

8. Matteo BAIOCCO, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), -18.020, 1:42.778

9. Leon CAMIER, UK (MV Agusta F4 RR), -18.654, 1:42.770

10. Sylvain GUINTOLI, France (Honda CBR1000RR SP), -19.510, 1:42.926

11. David SALOM, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -24.441, 1:42.791

12. Jordi TORRES, Spain (Aprilia RSV4 RF), -29.247, 1:42.326

13. Roman RAMOS, Spain (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -35.768, 1:42.973

14. Leandro MERCADO, Argentina (Ducati Panigale R), -37.933, 1:42.661

15. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (BMW S1000RR), -40.147, 1:43.176

16. Randy DE PUNIET, France (Suzuki GSX-R1000), -40.275, 1:43.610

17. Niccolo CANEPA, Italy (Ducati Panigale R), -45.846, 1:41.913, crash

18. Gabor RIZMAYER, Hungary (BMW S1000RR), -75.451, 1:45.049

19. Alex PHILLIS, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -1 lap, 1:46.559

20. Imre TOTH, Hungary (BMW S1000RR), -1 lap, 1:48.314

21. Christophe PONSSON, France (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -3 laps, 1:44.514

22. Gianluca VIZZIELLO, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-10R), -3 laps, 1:45.009, pitted

World Championship Point Standings (after 21 of 26 races):

1. Rea, 465 points (clinches 2015 Superbike World Championship)

2. Davies, 328

3. Sykes, 320

4. Haslam, 270

5. Torres, 190

6. Guintoli, 168

7. VD Mark, 141

8. Lowes, 121

9. Davide Giugliano, 119

10. Baiocco, 115

More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:

Sykes wins Jerez Race 1 as Rea clinches WorldSBK crown

Davies and van der Mark complete the podium ahead of the new Champion.

The opening race of the Pirelli Spanish round of this year’s eni FIM Superbike World Championship has been won by Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), the former champion notching up his 60th WorldSBK career podium finish as team mate Jonathan Rea sealed his first World Title by finishing fourth after an early race fight with rival Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) who eventually finished 2nd. Sykes dominated after leading from the start easing away to take his 26th race win

Not wanting to risk a mistake, Rea was overhauled by Michael van der Mark who showed some real speed on his Pata Honda, the Dutchman claiming his 3rd podium of the year ahead of the new World Champion and Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) who was in contention despite a lowly 11th position grid slot.

Michele Pirro (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) finished a credible 6th ahead of Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes, Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing), Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and the outgoing champ Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) who completed the top ten.

Jordi Torres made life difficult for himself, the Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils rider running off track at the start. Rejoining he ended the opening lap in 18th before eventually finishing 12th 4 seconds adrift of compatriot David Salom (Team Pedercini) who had the accolade of being the best placed Spanish rider.

The final points finishers were Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven), Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) and Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia).

Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) was running a strong fourth in the early stages before losing the front of his Ducati Panigale at Turn 6. The Italian, fresh from his first front row start was able to rejoin proceedings – he eventually finished 17th.

Race 2 will start at 13:10 local time and once again be run over a distance of 20 laps.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:

Jonathan Rea: 2015 eni FIM Superbike World Champion

An undeniable talent seals an indisputable world title.

The Pirelli Spanish Round has gone down in history as the WorldSBK race meeting at which Jonathan Rea was crowned World Champion of 2015. The British rider, standard bearer of the Kawasaki Racing Team, clinched the ultimate goal in Race 1 courtesy of his fourth position. He has been pursuing the title since his first full campaign in 2009.

Rea first mounted the all-conquering Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R at MotorLand Aragon on 17 November 2014, supported all the way by Team Manager and former rider Guim Roda. The Northern Irishman arrived in Malaysia at the start of August already with a mathematic chance of claiming the title, despite three rounds still remaining of the 13. After Race 1 at Jerez, he has now won 12 races this year and picked up 20 podium finishes from the first 21 races. He is chasing Doug Polen’s 1991 record of 17 race victories in one season, which can now only be equalled.

Since the inauguration of WorldSBK in 1988, Rea is the third rider to win the crown on a Kawasaki motorcycle. The first was American Scott Russell in 1993, while the next was Rea’s current team-mate Tom Sykes two decades later. Rea has also become the first different World Champion in as many years (with the last five titles having been sealed by Carlos Checa, Max Biaggi, Tom Sykes and Sylvain Guintoli) and the fifth British World Champion after Carl Fogarty, Neil Hodgson, James Toseland and the aforementioned Tom Sykes.

Although Rea’s raw talent has never been questioned over the past six seasons, it wasn’t until the 28-year-old from Ballymena rode the green bike that his maximum potential could be extracted. All the while off the track, the humble Briton has remained a professional, unassuming human being, rider, husband and father. He currently resides on the Isle of Man.

The coveted crown in his hands, the new number one faces the rest of the season with copious amount of convince, fully aware of the many goals he can still achieve and the fact that Jonathan Rea is the 2015 eni FIM Superbike World Champion.

BIOGRAPHY

Date of birth 2 February 1987

Place of birth Ballymena, Northern Ireland

CAREER

Race starts in World Superbike 161

Pole positions 6

Wins 27

Podiums 62

Fastest laps 19

First race Algarve/1, 2008

First pole Assen, 2010

First win Misano/2, 2009

First podium Kyalami/2, 2009

First fastest lap Nurburgring/2, 2009

CAREER PATH

2015 World Superbike: Kawasaki Racing Team, 1st, 465 points (12 wins, 20 podiums, 2 poles, 9 fastest laps)

2014 World Superbike: Pata Honda World Superbike Team, 3rd, 334 points (4 wins, 9 podiums, 1 pole, 2 fastest laps)

FIM Endurance (EWC): F.C.C. TSR Honda

2013 World Superbike: Pata Honda World Superbike Team, 9th, 176 points (1 win, 4 podiums, 1 fastest lap)

FIM Endurance: F.C.C. TSR Honda

2012 World Superbike: Honda World Superbike Team, 5th, 278.5 points (2 wins, 6 podiums)

MotoGP: Repsol Honda Team, 2 races, 21st, 17 points

2011 World Superbike: Castrol Honda, 9th, 170 points (2 wins, 5 podiums, 2 poles)

2010 World Superbike: Hannspree Ten Kate Honda, 4th, 292 points (4 wins, 10 podiums, 1 pole, 5 fastest laps)

2009 World Superbike: Hannspree Ten Kate Honda, 5th, 315 points (2 wins, 8 podiums, 2 fastest laps)

2008 World Supersport: Hannspree Ten Kate Honda, 2nd, 164 points (3 wins, 6 podiums)

World Superbike: Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr., 2 races, 26th, 14 points

2007 British Superbike: HM Plant Honda, 2nd, 407 points (5 wins, 16 podiums, 4 poles, 5 fastest laps)

2006 British Superbike: Red Bull Honda, 4th, 248 points (4 podiums, 2 poles)

2005 British Superbike: Red Bull Honda, 16th, 64 points (1 pole)