Kawasaki in trouble? “It is what it is” says Rea

Jonathan Rea was off the podium for the first time ever in Thailand, finishing a distant fourth place in the World Superbikes’ second outing of the weekend, at a circuit of which he has dominated at in the past. The Ulsterman won race one, taking his tally of wins at the Chang International Circuit to an impressive 6, but failed to get anywhere near that in race two.

“I think my problem today must have been a similar problem to Tom yesterday. It is what it is. After a very difficult Phillip Island we can go away from here with a first and a fourth, and leading the championship, so it was not a disaster,” said Rea, now leading the series by a mere two points from Melandri.
“I am frustrated but with a smile on my face because at least the bike was good and this is the worst track for brakes. Everyone is pushing really hard so when the going gets tough the tough get going. I felt like today I could have fought for the win again, but it is what it is,” he concluded.

Rea will look to return to the podium at Aragon, in three weeks time. If he fails to get on the podium, then it will be the first time since Jerez in 2014 that he has finished two consecutive races off the podium. That is a record he will not want to update, no matter where the opposition finishes.