Not content with being the fastest Superbike rider on the planet, Jonathan Rea’s status as one of motorcycling’s most skilled hands on two-wheels was demonstrated by an impressive slip ‘n’ save during the first WorldSBK race of the weekend at Misano.
With six WorldSBK titles, 103 wins and now 30 pole positions to his name, there are now precious few accolades or achievements that don’t bear his name. However, since we don’t see all that many errors from Rea, we never knew how good he was at saving his bike (and a good result) until he came remarkably close to wiping out mid-way through the Misano opener.
Running second to Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Rea was being made to work hard to keep up with the in-form Italian, so much so that the ZX-10RR cried enough as it rounded Turn 1 with the front-end folding him down… but not out.
Keeping the bike balanced on his knee, Rea would just about get the grip back from the tyres to haul it back upright in a save were more used to seeing performed by Marc Marquez on the Repsol Honda MotoGP bike.
Believe in the extraordinary
WHAT A SAVE @jonathanrea !!!!@KRT_WorldSBK #ITAWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/cb1g4A4rq1
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) June 12, 2021
Running off track at Turn 2, the slip nonetheless only cost Rea a single position with third place certainly a reward for what could very easily have been a non-scoring DNF.
“I would like to say I was learning from Marc Marquez but it was complete luck. I felt the tyre go but I pushed into the tyre and pushed into my knee. It’s lucky. The time I lost in this moment was the finishing gap… but congratulations to Michael, he did a brilliant job.”
What is it about Misano and Jonathan Rea?
This isn’t the first time Rea has been involved in a bizarre race day incident at Misano. In 2017 Rea came down after riding into and over rival Chaz Davies after the Welshman crashed in his path on the final lap of the race.
Then in 2019 during the Misano Superpole Race Rea dropped the ZX-10RR at low speed but after clinging onto the machine, he'd find himself on his back with the Kawasaki above him before coming down to rest alongside him. Despite the thump, Rea was able to get up and racing again, going on to finish fifth.
Incidentally, Misano is also the scene of his first-ever WorldSBK win achieved back in 2009 with Ten Kate Honda.
