WorldSBK Qatar (2): the last race of the season falls apart

If the World Supersport riders were entitled to their 2018 final in the early evening in Qatar – a race won by Mahias, the title going to Cortese – those of the World Superbike were deprived of it: the track conditions did not allow them to run safely. Explanations.

Site was in the starting blocks to tell its readers about the last race of the 2018 WorldSBK season. For proof, here is the introduction that we had concocted for you, ahead of this 26th race which will unfortunately never take place…

What MNC was planning:

Jonathan Rea has the opportunity to set three new records in "his" category: victory on Saturday night would bring his number of successes this season to 18, unheard of in World Superbike! It would also be the first time that a driver has achieved six double in a row … Finally, by registering 12 additional points, he would beat his previous points record (556 in 2017).

But to do this, the n ° 1 of the Kawasaki team will have to overtake at least eight riders: a large winner yesterday in the first round, "Johnny" is effectively relegated to ninth position on this last starting grid of the 2018 season. will install behind his podium comrades, Tom Sykes and Alex Lowes.

Frenetic finish to Race 1 of wins again to take a record-equalling 17th win of the season.

– Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK)

Fourth in the first Qatari WSBK round and author of a remarkable and very "re-Marquez" catching up ahead in the final corner (thanks Eurosport UK for the "replay" above), Eugene Laverty inherited the pole position this Saturday.

The n ° 50 Aprilia will start in front of the n ° 33 Ducati of Marco "Alternative" Melandri – sometimes brilliant, sometimes invisible, never average – and Loris "Electrifying" Baz who set fire at the end of the race last night and that we hope to see in such great shape today. Or in better shape, on a partially dry track ?!

What finally happened…

It was counting without the downpours – and sand! – who fell this Saturday morning in Qatar! The impressive images posted by the World Superbike riders and teams throughout the afternoon raised concerns about the cancellation of the second Superbike round, but also and above all, that of the Supersport. !

Race day here in Qatar. First very high winds and that’s what you call rain. Don’t think we will be going out just yet.

– Simon Buckmaster (@ SimonB_12)

Delayed and shortened to 12 laps instead of 17, the WSSP final was finally able to take place. But the water channels still present on the track and the completely submerged edges got the better of the superior category. "Following the World Supersport race, the safety commission (made up of the FIM, the WSBK organization and the SBK drivers) met", informs the race management.

"Due to an increase in standing water, and taking into account the power and tire differences of the WorldSBK and WorldSSP motorcycles, this led us to decide that a race would not be held in open conditions. security".

Official updates at 16:00 local (15:00 CET)

– Aruba.it Racing (@ArubaRacing)

The decision may seem strange, but it is justified: Superbike machines benefit from electronic assistance certainly, but they develop a hundred more horses. Their reactions to tiny puddles could be disastrous.

More critical: Supersports run in dry conditions with grooved tires, which offer a semblance of grip on a wet surface. In Superbike, you have to choose between slick and rain tire. However neither one nor the other allows to run on a generally dry track but strewn with dangerous drains of water….

The standing water that caused the delay here in Qatar has been dispersed and the first race of the evening is underway. Great job by Dorna and the circuit. | | |

– Yamaha Racing (@yamaharacingcom)

“Unfortunately, this brings the 2018 season to a premature end, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) ending the year with 545 points and 17 wins,” the organizers concluded. "Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) finished second in the championship, 23 points ahead of Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team)".

As for our "inter-national" Loris Baz (BMW Althea), he fails a small point in the World Top 10 with a total of 137 points registered and two sixth places as the best result: a month ago during the first round in Portimao, and there are just 24 hours in the first round in Losail.

Final classification of the 2018 Superbike World Championship

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