Unstoppable Rea races to his first Losail victory

Theunstoppable Jonathan Rea ticked another box in his glittering careerwhen he won the Race 1 of the Qatar round of the WorldSBK Championshiplast night.The three-time World champion Rea, who had wrapped up the2017 title in France with two and half rounds to spare, had never wonat the Losail International Circuit before last night. And he brought anend to that drought in spectacular style under floodlights on hisKawasaki ZX-10RR.The Northern Irish rider is seeking to betterAmerican Colin Edwards’ record points tally of 552 set in 2002. Afterthe Race 1 victory last night, Rea has 531 points, and another 25 pointstonight in Race 2 will smash the 15-year-old record.Rea was in aclass of his own at Losail, getting away brilliantly from pole todominate the penultimate race of season. He completed the 17 laps in33:41.021 seconds, 4.944secs ahead of second-placed Chaz Davies onDucati. Davies’ teammate Marco Melandri completed the podium.The30-year-old Rea, who also achieved Kawasaki’s maiden victory at Losail,has now chalked up 53 World Superbike victories in his career – 38 withKawasaki – and is only six wins behind the all-time record held by CarlFogarty. He has also become the second most successful rider ever,moving ahead of Australian great Troy Bayliss, who won 52 races during achequered career.Rea had made his intentions clear earlier as hehad set a new Losail lap record in the Superpole. In the race thatfollowed, Rea pushed his Kawasaki ZX-10RR to the limits around the5.380km track to snatch his 15th win of the season.Davies did hisbest to chase Rea down but would eventually finish a lonely seconddespite his best efforts – still a good result in his bid to secure therunner-up spot in the championship. His teammate Melandri crossed thefinish line a further five seconds behind him.Eugene Lavertyfinished fourth ahead of his Aprilia teammate Lorenzo Savadori, whileTom Sykes completed the top six on the second of the KRT machines.Yamaha’sAlex Lowes who was the closest challenger to Rea in the Superpole,coming in second, had a disappointing end to the night. With seven lapsto go, Lowes, who was involved in a feisty duel with Davies, crashed atthe last corner with a podium spot in his sights. Lowes picked up hisYamaha YZF R1 to go in search of valuable championship points but wentdown again in the final stages. Lowes’ teammate Michael van der Markalso crashed out of the race, touching the rear of Sykes’ bike at Turn7. leader Mahias on pole for WorldSSP showdownIn theSupersport class, Lucas Mahias of GRT Yamaha put on a lightning lap toclinch the pole position for tonight’s season-finale. The Frenchman has a20-point lead going into the final race of the season and hestrengthened his title aspirations by smashing the Losail Supersport laprecord last night.His championship rival and defending championKenan Sofuoglu of Kawasaki was fourth fastest, and it will need a hugeeffort from the Turkish rider to win the title tonight. Sofuoglu waspassed fit prior to third practice to race despite suffering threefractures to his pelvis at Magny-Cours in France just over a month ago.France’s Jules Cluzel of Honda and Finnish rider Niki Tuuli of KallioRacing also qualified on the front row, timing the second and thirdfastest time in Superpole 2.Mahias set a new lap record of 2:00.738secs as the championship leader bids to secure the world title in styletonight. Cluzel qualified 0.546s behind his fellow Frenchman, whilstTuuli was delighted to grab third on the grid, with a lap which was0.654s off the pole-setter.Sofuoglu is riding through the painbarrier during this final weekend of the season and is receiving medicalcheck-ups after each session as he bids to prevent Mahias from takinghis crown. Sofuoglo needs a top-two finish and hope Mahias misses thetop 10 to win a sixth world title.Qatar’s Saeed al-Sulati was 18thfastest on his Kawasaki ZX-6R, while his QMMF Racing compatriot Mashelal-Naimi was 22nd. The duo will be hoping for a much better performancetonight in front of the local crowd. WSBK Race 1 results (top 10)1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) 33:41.0212. Chaz Davies (Ducati) +4.9443 Marco Melandri (Ducati)  +10.4054. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia)  +12.0525. Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia)  +12.3396. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki)  +15.5877. Jordi Torres (BMW)  +16.7898. Sylvain Guintoli (Kawasaki)  +17.8699. Leon Camier (MV Agusta)  +18.49410. Roman Ramos (Kawasaki)  +22.660Today’s Schedule17:00-17:15    WorldSSP - WUP17:30-17:45    WorldSBK - WUP19:30    WorldSSP - Race21:00    WorldSBK - Race 2