Rea takes Estoril superpole dedicating win to Jason Dupasquier

Six-time World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea has won the Superpole Race at Estoril ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu and Scott Redding.

Kawasaki rider Rea took the lead on hap five after a battle with Yamaha’s Razgatlioglu and Ducati’s Redding.

Rea extends his championship lead to 13 points over Redding.

He dedicated his victory to Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier, who died after a crash at Mugello on Saturday at the age of 19.

“It was an incredible race. It was a bit scrappy at the start and everybody wanted to lead,” said Rea.

“I got back to parc ferme to hear that Jason Dupasquier has passed away. I’ve no words but I would like to dedicate that to him and his family. I pray that they have strength at this time.”

Rea was the only rider on the front two rows to use the SC0 tyre and was under pressure from Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati); the Italian trying to go around the outside at Turn 1.

Rea came out of Turn 1 with the lead of the race but soon found himself shuffled down to third when both Redding and Razgatlioglu able to pass him; with Razgatlioglu moving from third to first in one move at Turn 1, although he did have to fight to keep the lead from Redding.

Redding found himself moving down the order again when he made a mistake at Turn 6, allowing both Rea and Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) through although Redding responded on Gerloff just a few laps later. Meanwhile, heading into Turn 1, Rea was able to make the move on Razgatlioglu to re-take the lead of the race and claim his first victory in Estoril. Razgatlioglu was unable to respond and came home in second place, ahead of Gerloff.

Rinaldi was unable to capitalise on his strong start to claim his podium with the factory Ducati outfit, coming home in fifth place after fending off the challenge from Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) by just 0.040s to complete the second row alongside Gerloff and Rinaldi.

The third row will feature two BMW machines with Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) coming home in seventh place ahead of his former teammate, Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse) in eighth. Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) will start Race 2 from ninth after fighting through from 15th to finish ninth in the Tissot Superpole Race.

WORLDSBK ESTORIL, PORTUGAL – SUPERPOLE RACE RESULTS