World champ Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) swept both races at Qatar this weekend … setting records in the process.
Rea set his personal record for wins during a season with a total of 16 this year. He also reached second on the career total WSB wins list — Rea now has 54 WSB wins, second only to Carl Fogarty, who has 59. Rea also broke the record for the most WSB points in a single season.
Finishing behind Rea in Race 1 were Ducati teammates Chaz Davies (second place) and Marco Melandri (third place). Davies also finished second in Race 2, ahead of Alex Lowes (Yamaha.)
A poor weekend showing by Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes handed second place in the championship to Davies. You will find full results to Race 1 here, and Race 2 here. For additional details and points, visit the official WSB site.
See more of MD’s great photography:
What your witnessing is a combination of an excellent rider and bike. ZX10 a formidable weapon and Rea really rides it well. Certainly has happened before. You guys remember Mick Doohan and the NSR500?
If the results are anything to go by, only Rea’s ZX10rr is truly formidable. For all the examples in the field, his is the only one inside the top 5, with the concentration being near the back.
Aside from Rea’s dominance, it looks like a very competitive series.
Sykes is pretty good too
For sure he is, he just hasn’t had as good a year as Rea.
Wonderful accomplishment. Might be a backmarker in MotoGP if he ever decides to move up. Who knows?
re: “Might be a backmarker in MotoGP if he ever decides to move up.”
not “might be” WILL BE.
Q: Who knows?
A: NORM-CORK…
well that and any Spanish national.
Isn’t Rea’s and Kawasaki dominance on WSB getting a little bit out of hand?
Someone told me some time ago that this is a result of Kawasaki not participating on the GP hence spending the time for R&D on their street bikes.
Q: Isn’t Rea’s and Kawasaki dominance on WSB getting a little bit out of hand?
A: yes.
Nope. Dynasties are great in all sports. Appreciate the excellence while it lasts.
It’s only getting a bit out of hand when it is not your team or in this case brand of motorcycle.
Chris
Ducati will have a new bike in 2019 to adress this issue. I always enjoy seeing a Kawi or Suzuki win though, as they’re kind of the underdogs compared to Yamaha and Honda.
http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2017/Ducati+unveil+new+V4+engine+in+Italy
re: “Ducati will have a new bike…”
…11am today.
I think it’s merely indicative of the level of commitment of the other factories. Kawasaki didn’t arrive overnight, it took them and Sykes a few years to win.
Besides, Dorna put the focus back on MotoGP and WSBK is withering.
And dynasties suck in Motorsports, especially when relatively unchallenged. If the character who is winning isn’t a larger than life personality (ie. Rossi..), interest drops.
Agreed. I have to believe subscriptions will drop after this season.
I do like watching 300SSP though…..I think that class was a good addition.
Agree with TF. When the top four spots go to the same four riders almost without exception, it’s a little hard to justify the $100 (or whatever) for video coverage. Especially now that Nicky’s gone.
(Honestly, though, it was getting kind of hard to watch Nicky put on a brave face while struggling with bike that had taken a giant step backward since the previous season.)
No doubt there’s some fine racing further down the field, but even those results seem determined more by the strengths of the bikes than the riders. More so than in MotoGP.
But yeah, 300SSP is cool. I watched the Ana Carrasco win and was impressed w/ the quality of the racing.
Much like Honda in 2010 er…17
jonny rea’s NATCORK = pere riba…
re: “Rea set his personal record for wins during a season with a total of 16 this year. He also reached second on the career total WSB wins list — Rea now has 54 WSB wins, second only to Carl Fogarty, who has 59. Rea also broke the record for the most WSB points in a single season.”
and to think, in 2010 ago you couldn’t get arrested on a Zed in WSBK.
Re: “and to think, in 2010 ago you couldn’t get arrested on a Zed in WSBK.”
Much like Honda in 2010 Er…17