WSBK: Jonathan Rea in podium double at Motorland Aragon

The Kawasaki star caught and passed team-mate Tom Sykes to finish as the runner-up in Saturday’s opening race in Spain behind Welshman Davies, but on Sunday Rea had to settle for the final spot on the podium as Sykes turned the tables.

He had forced his way into second place ahead of Sykes, but ran off the track on lap 15 and was unable to claw back the deficit as he finished two-and-a-half seconds behind the Yorkshireman.

The 29-year-old was nine seconds own on Aruba.it Ducati rider Davies and Rea said he needs more time with the new 2016 Ninja ZX-10R to get the best from the bike.

“It was a difficult race because straight from the off we did not have so much grip in the rear and I was having to pick the bike up,” said the Northern Ireland man, reflecting on Sunday’s race.

“When I back-shifted going into turn one with a few laps to go the rear locked and I could not stop, that was end of the chance to fight for second position today. Being second or third today is not the issue, it is being so far from the fight for the front.

“There were some areas where we were struggling today. We just need more time with the new bike and it is a step-by-step process. When a tough weekend is second and third it is not so bad.”

In race one, Xavi Fores on the Barni Racing Ducati finished fourth, while Davies’ team-mate Davide Giugliano and former MotoGP star Nicky Hayden (Honda) completed the top six.

Fores again finished fourth on Sunday ahead of Althea BMW rider Jordi Torres and Giugliano.

Rea leads the championship by 26 points from Davies after three rounds, with Sykes three points further adrift in third.

Round four takes place at Assen in the Netherlands from April 15-17, where Rea boasts an excellent record at the legendary Dutch circuit.