Perfect ten for Jonathan Rea at Portimao as World Superbike champion slashes deficit at top to eight points

The Kawasaki rider has cut Scott Redding’s advantage at the top of the standings to just eight points after the Ducati rider could only finish seventh.

It was Rea’s first full-distance race victory of the 2020 season, coming after he won the Superpole races at Phillip Island in Australia and at Jerez in Spain last weekend.

The 33-year-old secured pole position on the grid and from there, Rea shot into the lead of the 20-lap race on Saturday.

In a dominant trademark performance, he set a scorching pace in the opening stages to break clear of the field, before managing his pace as he dictated matters from the front.

Rea was never in trouble as he wrapped up his 91st career World Superbike victory by five seconds from Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha), whose team-mate, Michael van der Mark, claimed third place.

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) finished fourth ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi on the Team Go Eleven Ducati, while Loris Baz completed the top six (Tan Kate Yamaha).

Championship leader Redding, a double winner at Jerez last weekend, was in contention for a podium finish before he lost ground in the closing stages, slipping back to seventh.

The British rider was left on the back foot after qualifying in eighth place on the grid following a crash during Superpole.

BMW’s Eugene Laverty finished in 10th place, with team-mate Tom Sykes in eighth.

The Superpole race is scheduled for 11:00 BST on Sunday followed by the second full-distance race at 14:00 BST.

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