'Thank God for that' - World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea reflects on 'miraculous' lucky escape in Superpole race at Catalunya

In a dramatic Superpole 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 (Pata Yamaha) on lap three.

Bautista was taken to the medical centre for a check-up.

Rea said: “In the first laps I was very, very lucky; first I hope Alvaro is okay, but he came past me on the straight and then at T4 had a huge crash on the exit.

“I hit his bike and in this moment I thought, ‘I’m down, I’m going to crash’, and in fact I almost let go, but miraculously I stayed upright, so thank God for that.

“Someone was definitely helping me out there and I had to regroup and chase Mikey (Van der Mark), but his pace was very good today so congratulations to him and his team today.”

The Ulster rider claimed the runner-up spot behind Van der Mark to extend his lead at the top to 48 points.

After the incident with Bautista, Dutchman Van der Mark began to open a gap over Rea, gradually pulling clear to seal victory in the 10-lap race on the Pata Yamaha by 2.372s.

Rea - who won Saturday's opening race - was joined on the podium by Ten Kate 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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