After yesterday’s crash in Race 1, Johnny Rea wanted to turn the page and somehow made it halfway. The Kawasaki man dreamed of winning at Phillip Island, but in the end had to be content with winning the Superpole race.
He couldn’t achieve more on a weekend that wasn’t easy for Kawasaki’s five-time world champion.
“Unfortunately, the last few days have not been easy – said Johnny – my grandmother died yesterday, so I would like to dedicate her victory in the Superpole race on Sunday morning to her. Last October, when I was in Qatar for the last race of the season, I learned that she was seriously ill and I am sorry that she is gone. Now I’m going home to stay with my family. “
The attention then shifted to the track to analyze how his race was.
“I got off to a good start. I had a good feeling riding my motorcycle, but I was a little disappointed with the rhythm that influenced me in the end. On the track, I had to deal with the Yamaha, which had a lot of traction out of the corners, while I struggled with braking because of the wind. It’s a shame about the rhythm, especially at the end. When Alex passed me in T1, I tried to answer. Although I came close to him on the last lap, it wasn’t enough to get to the finish line first. Otherwise we’re better positioned than last season when I was 15 seconds behind Bautista. “
Despite everything, there is an air of disappointment.
“I did everything I could, but I didn’t get the results that I could have achieved. Now I can’t wait to go to Qatar to be competitive again and to find the right sensations again. “
One thing is certain, however: Australia has once again produced great races and lots of fights.
“That depends on Phillip Island, a circuit where you get long groups of drivers like today. Disappointed not to win but what matters is the fact that there are still a lot of races to go and the season is only just beginning. You have to be patient. As I said, this track is special, it is also difficult to develop strategies, because then you run the risk of the race not going as you imagined. “
In the end, the driver you hadn’t expected won – Alex Lowes, who was a bit overshadowed in the tests.
“He just did the best and made a lot of progress from the tests to the race weekend. Team orders? They don’t exist in Kawasaki and I don’t need them to win races. “