2021 Misano World Superbike, Italy - Race Results (1)

Michael Rinaldi takes his first victory as a Factory Ducati rider in race 1 of his home Misano World Superbike round.

The free practice leader attacked pole man Jonathan Rea for the lead at turn 1 but was swiftly rebuffed by the Kawasaki star, with Razgatlioglu then taking advantage of the duel ahead to snatch the advantage.

However, Rinaldi was leading from Rea by the end of the opening lap.

Six-time world champion Rea continued to stalk Rinaldi's Ducati until being forced to make a big Marc Marquez-style save when the front tyre slid away through Turn 1, with 12 laps to go.

Rea kept his ZX-10R upright but ran off-track and dropped to third behind Razgatlioglu, while Rinaldi was given the breathing room to escape for his second WorldSBK win after Aragon 2020.

While the Rea incident decided the podium order, Rinaldi's Ducati team-mate and double 2021 race winner Redding spent the race in a lonely fourth place ahead of the Kawasaki of countryman Alex Lowes.

Alvaro Bautista, Axel Basini, Tom Sykes, Andrea Locatelli and Michael van der Mark completed the top ten.

Chaz Davies fell from seventh place with ten laps to go.

Garrett Gerloff was forced to start from pit lane, due to 'irresponsible riding' at previous rounds, recovering to twelfth and ahead of GRT Yamaha team-mate Kohta Nozane.

Eugene Laverty was declared unfit for the remainder of Saturday after suffering a neck strain and 'functional impairment' in an FP3 accident, which saw him reach the tyre barrier at Turn 10.

The Irishman will undergo a further medical check on Sunday morning, in the hope of taking part in the remaining races.

Rea will head into Sunday with a 36-point lead over nearest rival Razgatlioglu, with Redding 41-points behind in third and Rinaldi up to fifth place (-76 points).