Jonathan Rea becomes World Superbike legend
Saturday night in Losail (Qatar), Jonathan Rea secured a second consecutive WSBK title! In addition to this feat that Bayliss, Edwards, Corser, Toseland or Biaggi have never accomplished, the two-time champion managed to obtain the double for Kawasaki, offering Sykes the "title" of vice-champion…
Page 1 – Rea and Kawasaki retain their titles
Winner of his first world title last year on a factory Kawasaki that he was only discovering – after six seasons spent battling the Honda Ten Kate – Jonathan Rea managed to double the stake this year, at the helm of a new version of the ZX-10R !
This winter, some observers – including Site who attended the Kawasaki Racing Team before – pointed out that most of the development of the new Ninja had been dictated by … his teammate Tom Sykes, who rides the Superbike Akashi since 2010 !
Didn’t the directives of n ° 66 risk breaking the subtle harmony created in 2015 between n ° 65 and his machine? One could fear it, as the styles of piloting between the two Ninjas differed – and always differ: Rea brakes and accelerates less strongly than Sykes, but passes faster in curves…
But from the inaugural event of the WSBK 2016 at Phillip Island, Rea confirmed his status as "Number One" by winning at the controls of the "Sykes 2016 Ninja" a magnificent double, against the formidable Davies and his factory Ducati, and far ahead of his teammate.
When we met last year, Jonathan explained to MNC the reasons for his success: "I have achieved a tremendous balance between my personal life and my sporting life. I believe that my success this year does not come only from my passage. at KRT (Kawasaki Racing Team, Editor’s note), but also a lot because I travel with my family, which is very pleasant. It helps to put certain things, certain results, both good and bad, into perspective..
Playing on a par with Tom in Buriram and Aragon, Jonathan brilliantly dominated "his" Assen event then climbed on six more podiums (Imola, Sepang and Donington Park, often in the company of Chaz and Tom!) Before winning three new victories in Misano and Laguna Seca.
Thanks to his series of 17 podiums in 17 races (!), "Johnny" had a 71 point lead over his two big rivals. But during the second American round, the beautiful mechanics seized up … On several occasions at the start of the season, the 2015 world champion – but not the 2013, curiously – had endured gearbox problems…
The image of Jonathan vainly inspecting his motorcycle on the edge of the Californian track as "Major Tom" flew to victory lingered in people’s minds for nine long weeks, the length of the summer truce. And the return to the Lausitzring was no more heartwarming as Rea fell again – fell! – on a false neutral point during the race !
Second in the first German round, Sykes thus came back to 26 points from his best enemy … But fell in the second round due to too much braking in the wet and finished a distant 12th place, while Rea signed his last success of the season !
As in 2015 indeed, Chaz Davies had an admirable end of the 2016 season: the Ducati rider n ° 7 even won the last six victories at Magny-Cours, Jerez and Losail! The No. 1 Kawasaki rider, for his part, added five podiums to his collection, achieving the same total as last season: 23 "Top Three" in 26 races.
Less ruthless than last year (9 wins in 2016 against 14 in 2015), "JR" scored 60 points less: 498 in 2016 against 528 in 2015 … The record of points scored in a single World Superbike season , established by Colin Edwards in 2002 (552 points), still holds !
Jonathan Rea’s second season with the Akashi Greens is no less impressive, successful, even legendary: 17 years after the second double of "King Carl" Fogarty (WSBK champion in 1994/95 and 1998/99 ), the "Dieu Rea" eclipsed his opponents for the second year in a row !
If winning a world title is extremely difficult, it may be more difficult to keep it: ask the three-time champion Troy Bayliss (2001, 2006 and 2008) or the two-time champions Colin Edwards (2000 and 2002), Troy Corser ( 1996 and 2005), James Toseland (2004 and 2007) and Max Biaggi (2010 and 2012) !
Rea, Sykes and Kawasaki: top the Greens in 2016 !
Not content with keeping his world crown, the Ninja n ° 1 also offered his teammate the "title" of vice-champion by giving him the second step of the podium of the second Qatari round! Asked in the closed park a few minutes later, Tom Sykes was extremely grateful !
"I can’t find the words and as a gentleman, I really, really appreciate this kind of gesture" ", confided Sykes on his arrival." I will remember it all my life ", assured the n ° 2 of the championship. WSBK 2016, two small points ahead of the unbeatable Chaz Davies.
"We have lost championships in the past because of team instructions from other manufacturers," recalled Tom Sykes who had been beaten by half a point in 2012 by Biaggi – and Laverty, his Aprilia teammate -, then by six points in 2014 by Guintoli (the gap would have been only one point without Melandri)…
"This gesture allowed me to finish second in the championship and secure a double for Kawasaki. It has been an incredible season for Kawasaki!", Rejoiced "Mister Supersykes", again first in the Tissot Superpole standings (284 points against 221 for Rea and 186 for Davies) and author of eight poles this season.
In terms of lap records in the race, it is Chaz Davies who this time dominates his two inseparable compatriots: in 2016, ten of the best times were posted by the Welshman riding his 1199 Panigale, against 6 each for the north- Irish and English at the controls of their Ninja ZX-10R.
Also in number of victories, the Ducati rider beats his rivals Kawa: "Chazie" has brought his manufacturer his 11 victories this season (against 9 for Rea and 5 for Sykes, only one for Hayden on Honda). "Only the 2011 season was better for the Bologna firm with 15 victories (Carlos Checa)", report WorldSBK statisticians !
Kawasaki, on the other hand, has never stepped off the Superbike podium this year. Last year, Akashi’s firm missed the boat during the second round in Jerez (4th!), But had scored more points: 599 out of 650 maximum in 2015, 582 in 2016. Titled from the front- last test, Kawasaki finally leads Ducati by 65 points … Quite a symbol, the 65 being Rea’s favorite race number !
Next year, however, Jonathan will stick his "Number One" plate on his motorcycle again … Just like his colleague, Kenan Sofuoglu, crowned for the second year in a row – but for the fifth time in all – in "his" Supersport category! In 2016, the Ninjas were therefore particularly badass…
Kawasaki has retained all of its titles obtained in 2015: in addition to the two driver titles, the Greens have kept the ZX-6R and ZX-10R at the top of the world stage. The manufacturer having decided not to change his teams who win in 2017, could it be that he is tripling the bet? Answer to follow on Site: stay connected !
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