WSBK: Redding ruffles Rea to take Race one spoils
By Short Shift News
Scott Redding has converted his first World Superbike pole position into his first race victory after a stunning opening race in Jerez.
From pole, Redding had a problematic start, slipping behind Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu.
The leading group started to immediately open a gap on the rest of the field as Rea, Razgatlioglu, Baz and Van der Mark lead the group.
As the race went on, GRT Yamaha’s Federico Caricasulo crashed out of the race before we lost Tom Sykes and Michael van der Mark to mechanical failures.
With tyre life on the rider’s minds, the pace at the front wasn’t spectacular with all riders saving their tyres for the final ten laps.
Scott Redding started making moves, squeezing past Toprak Razgatlioglu’s PATA Yamaha before then pulling an aggressive move on race leader Jonathan Rea into turn six.
Redding looked comfortable as he looked to open the lead over the KRT rider but looked like he was struggling into turn six.
Meanwhile, championship leader Alex Lowes was being troubled by Barni Ducati’s Marco Melandri and Leon Haslam who were battling for eighth.
Second Aruba.it Racing Ducati of Chaz Davies looked like he had the pace to take the final podium spot, but mistakes while trying to clear Loris Baz and a last-lap effort on Toprak Razgatlioglu put an end to his podium charge.
Scott Redding went on to take the win ahead of Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu. Chaz Davies finished fourth with Ten Kate Yamaha’s Loris Baz putting in an impressive performance to round out the top five.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi finished sixth ahead of Alvaro Bautista, Melandri, Lowes and Haslam.
Garrett Gerloff finished 11th ahead of Christophe Ponsson, Xavi Fores, Sandro Cortese and Eugene Laverty who takes the final point.
With his maiden victory, Scott Redding goes into race two tomorrow as the championship leader.
Featured image: Aruba.it Racing