World Superbike Catalunya, Spain - Race Results (1)

Scott Redding won a dramatic opening Catalunya WorldSBK race in the wet, while championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu retired from the lead due to mechanical problems.

Following three dry free practice sessions and qualifying, heavy rain unexpectedly hit the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona.

Razgatlioglu made the perfect start as he took the lead into turn one, while Rea went from third to seventh.

However, Rea was already back up to second come turn six, before getting past Razgatlioglu into turn 10. 

The championship leader came back at Rea at the start of lap two, but Rea performed a lovely cut-back in turn three to get back past.  

Rea immediately pulled away from Razgatlioglu, who instead came under intense pressure from rookie Axel Bassani. 

The two began a brilliant battle which saw position swaps corner after corner. Bassani looked the quicker of the two but was repassed by the Yamaha man every time he attempted to make the move stick. 

However, on lap six Bassani finally made the overtake count while the battle intensified for fourth. 

Michael Rinaldi was in that position for the opening few laps before Michael Van Der Mark and Alex Lowes both passed the Italian. 

Van Der Mark immediately gapped the group of Rinaldi, Lowes and a fast charging Leon Haslam to instead close up on Bassani and Razgatlioglu. 

Razgatlioglu then got back ahead of Bassani on lap 10 - turn one, as he began to close down Rea. 

After brilliantly closing in on Rea in conditions that were supposed to favour the Kawasaki rider much more, Razgatlioglu made his move for the lead with nine laps left. 

Rea was unable to respond and instead came under pressure from Bassani. The Ducati rider took second spot off Rea at the first time of asking into turn one.

Then came huge drama as Razgatlioglu pulled up on the exit of turn three with a mechanical issue. 

The Yamaha rider’s issue elevated Rea back into second place, however, the factory Ducati’s of Rinaldi and Scott Redding (fastest rider on track) both closed in, before getting ahead of the new championship leader. 

Redding made light work of Rinaldi on lap 15 and then Bassani two laps later, which turned out to be the race winning move.

Bassani held on for second ahead of Rinaldi, while Rea did the same with Van Der Mark for fourth position.