Jonathan Rea survives frightening near-miss at Catalunya to clinch runner-up finish and new 48-point lead in World Superbike Championship

Jonathan Rea claimed a runner-up finish in the Superpole race at Catalunya in Barcelona on Sunday to extend his lead in the World Superbike Championship to 48 points.
Jonathan Rea has increased his lead in the World Superbike Championship to 48 points over Scott Redding.Jonathan Rea has increased his lead in the World Superbike Championship to 48 points over Scott Redding.
Jonathan Rea has increased his lead in the World Superbike Championship to 48 points over Scott Redding.

In a dramatic race, Rea was fortunate to escape being caught up in Alvaro Bautista’s huge high-side when the Team HRC rider was fired from his machine at Turn 4, shortly after he had taken the lead from Rea and Michael van der Mark on lap three.

Dutchman Van der Mark also came through the incident unscathed and began to open a gap over Rea, gradually pulling clear to claim victory in the 10-lap race on the Pata Yamaha by 2.372s.

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Rea, who won Saturday's first race, remained in a safe second place and was joined on the podium by Ten Kata Yamaha rider Loris Baz, while Welshman Chaz Davies was the first Ducati home in fourth. His team-mate, Scott Redding, could only finish eighth as the British rider lost more ground in the title race.

Davies only just held off American rider Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha) by 0.056s at the line after the pair were locked in battle throughout.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi completed the top six on the Team Go Eleven Ducati to finalise the first two row of the grid for race two (14:00 BST).

BMW Motorrad rider Eugene Laverty crossed the line in 11th place, matching his result from Saturday’s opening race at the Spanish circuit.

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