BSB: Rea triumphs twice at Donington Park, title fight wide open

Gino Rea (Buildbase Suzuki) stormed to his first BSB victory in a wet Race 1 and doubled up in an equally soaked Race 3. Only Race 2 took place on dry tarmac and it was Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) who came back from 11^th on the grid for the win.

Despite a mechanical failure in Race 3, the Scotsman continues to lead the championship by 10 points over teammate Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) who completed three damage limitation rides at Donington Park.

With 75 points still up for grabs, Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati) is well within contention at a 15-points deficit. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Products Ducati) too still has a realistic shot at the crown sitting 21 points adrift. Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad) and Peter Hickman’ (FHO Racing BMW) chances though have been reduced to being purely mathematical at 66- and 68-points disadvantages.

RACE 1

Rea stayed in front from pole followed by Buchan and Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing). Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati), Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) and Bridewell looked competitive in the wet conditions and closed in. Right before the end of the opening lap, Buchan took the lead.

Buchan and Rea pulled away from their chasers with the former reclaiming P1. Brookes was up into third and closing them down, but the race was over for Irwin who went down through the Foggy Esses.

The sketchy conditions caught Buchan out on the front brakes at the Melbourne Hairpin on Lap 4. A lap later, a moment brought Brookes onto the grass and his Ducati dropped on the slippery surface. Bridewell was the next victim of the rain as he crashed when braking into Coppice.

Rea was left in a lonely lead with Jackson behind at some distance. Storm Stacey (Team LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki) had taken third and was flying towards P2 with great pace. Seven laps in, he overtook the Kawasaki.

The youngster’s race came to a premature end two laps later when he went down going into Redgate. Jackson was not granted any breathing space though as Iddon was edging ever closer. A well-controlled Kyle Ryde (RICH Energy OMG Racing BMW) was promoted into fourth while title contenders O’Halloran and Mackenzie were running fifth and sixth respectively.

Jackson and Iddon were joined by Ryde and the trio engaged in battle for position. Going into the penultimate lap, Iddon led the pack shadowed by Ryde with Jackson at a marginal distance.

Rea nursed a fulminant victory to the chequered flag. Ryde had claimed P2 and left Iddon without a chance to counter while Jackson had to settle for fourth. O’Halloran came in fifth while Mackenzie was beaten to sixth by Joe Francis (FHO Racing BMW).

RACE 2

Rea was under pressure from Stacey and Ryde on the opening lap with the youngster eventually leading over the line. The VisionTrack Ducatis were running fourth and fifth, keen to get involved in the battle. Buchan and Jackson blew punches in a frantic opening laps.

As positions swapped and changed, Rea and Iddon locked together managed to make a marginal breakaway at the front. Buchan emerged as the first chaser and reeled them back in, dragging the rest of the pack with him.

Buchan had great rhythm on the softer tyre and it only took him a few turns to clinch the lead. The BMW rider headed an 11-rider procession with the top three gradually gapping the field. Halfway through the race, Buchan, Iddon and Rea had built an almost one-second advantage.

Mackenzie found some fighting spirit in the chasing group and picked his way up the order. A duel with Brookes held him up, but the Scotsman eventually clinched fourth and went to hunt down the leaders. In the top group, Iddon had taken the lead for the first time on Lap 11.

By Lap 14 Mackenzie had caught the group and swiftly took third off Rea. The Suzuki rider slowly lost touch and dropped towards Ryde who was fastest on track in fifth.

Buchan and Iddon exchanged punches in the closing stages. As Mackenzie tried to capitalise and dive down the inside, he clipped Iddon and was almost out of his seat. Everyone stayed upright, but Buchan had won an advantage.

Mackenzie went to hunt the BMW down. He committed to an overtake through the Foggy Esses and led into the final lap. Buchan did not give up, but Mackenzie had it covered for the win. Iddon completed the podium while O’Halloran struggled to P9.

RACE 3

After a lengthy delay due to heavy rain the race got underway for a 15 lapper in wet conditions. Mackenzie led as the lights went out, but Rea overtook on the opening lap. The Suzuki rider instantly pulled an advantage while Mackenzie successively fell behind Iddon and Jackson.

Brookes’ title chances came to an end on Lap 2 through a crash at Craner Curves. Mackenzie too was out of the race when his Yamaha faded and he rolled out with the mechanical failure.

Iddon closed Rea down while Jackson chipped away on the gap to the front duo. Bridewell was running fourth while Hickman took fifth off O’Halloran. The Australian was in trouble, lapping a second slower than his chasers, and looked unlikely to capitalise on his teammate’s misfortune.

Halfway through the race, Rea and Iddon held around a second over Jackson whose hunt was not over yet. Bridewell and Hickman were lonely in fourth and fifth while O’Halloran had dropped into eighth.

Rea had his head down and gradually edged away from the Ducati behind him. Iddon retaliated and managed to eradicate his deficit, but Jackson was out of contention with five laps remaining.

Half a second separated Rea and Iddon and as the Suzuki rider realised his chance to break, he committed to an escape to victory. Iddon settled for second and a valuable 20 championship points while Jackson completed the podium. O’Halloran nursed his Yamaha home in eighth.