2015 Jerez World Superbike Results – Champion Crowned
Spoiler Alert – 2015 World SBK Results from Jerez Circuit in Spain listed below.
Heading into round 11 of 13 in the 2015 World Superbike Championship, all focus was on one rider – Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea.
The 28-year-old of Larne, UK, entered Jerez with a 144-point lead over Ducati Team’s Chaz Davies. He was able to garner such a lead after finishing on the podium at every race in the opening 10 rounds, which included 12 wins.
Mathematically, Rea had the opportunity to clinch his debut World Superbike title at Jerez – and this is just what he accomplished. The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R pilot finished fourth in race one – his first non-podium finish of 2015 SBK – but was able to garner enough points the clinch the title two rounds early.
Rea, who joined the World Superbike full time in 2009 and raced a Honda CBR1000RR up until 2015, became just the third rider to win a WSBK title aboard a Kawasaki since the series debuted in 1988; the other two were Scott Russell (1993) and Rea’s current teammate Tom Sykes (2013).
“Personally, it feels like a little bit of a weight off my shoulders. I have always believed that we were capable of winning a world championship right after I had stepped off a World Supersport bike onto a Superbike,” Rea says.
“Now, in this moment, it just feels like my time to be honest. It feels a bit like everything has gone my way a bit, even when a couple of things could have gone wrong. Like when the rain came in Portimao and I had a slide with the front in the wet, and caught it on my knee. When I had a big moment at Donington in lap one, and I landed straight back on the seat again, and was able to pick up a second place.”
With the title in hand, Rea rode confidently in race two, finishing fourth once again. Earning the race-one win was Jerez pole sitter Sykes, who was joined on the Jerez SBK podium by Davies and Team Pata Honda’s Michael van der Mark.
Davies secured the top of the podium in race two. Rounding out the 2015 Superbike Jerez podium was the Aprilia Racing Team duo of Jordi Torres and Leon Haslam.
Also, Kawasaki was able to secure the 2015 FIM Manufacturer title due to Rea’s fourth and Sykes’ fifth in race two.
The 2015 World Superbike Championship now breaks for two weeks ahead of the penultimate round at Magny-Cours in France.
Following are the official Jerez WSBK race recaps:
2015 Jerez World Superbike Results, Race 1 Recap
Sykes dominated the opening race in Jerez, the Kawasaki pilot earning his 26th race win and 60th career podium. As for Rea, he had a fight early on with Davies, but settled for fourth to earn his first-ever SBK title.
Not wanting to risk a mistake, Rea was overhauled by van der Mark, who showed some real speed on his Pata Honda CBR1000RR, the Dutchman claiming his third podium of the year ahead of the new World Champion. Haslam was also in the battle, but had to settle for fifth after starting from 11th on the grid.
The injured Davide Giugliano’s substitute aboard the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team 1199 Panigale R, Michele Pirro, finished a credible sixth ahead of Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes, Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing), Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and the reigning World SBK champ Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team).
Torres had some issues, the Aprilia RSV4 pilot running off track at the start. Torres rejoined the grid on the opening lap, but this time in 18th. He eventually finished 12th, four seconds behind the top Spanish rider, Team Pedercini Kawasaki’s David Salom.
The final points finishers were Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven), Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) and Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia).
Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing) was running a strong fourth in the early stages before losing the front of his Ducati Panigale at Turn 6. The Italian, fresh from his first front row start was able to rejoin proceedings, finished 17th.
2015 Jerez World Superbike Results, Race 2 Recap
In race two at Jerez World Superbike 2015, Davies was able to claim his ninth win of 2015 SBK. Unlike in race one when Sykes was able to break away from the group after earning the holeshot, the Brit received much pressure from Davies.
The Ducati Panigale rider made the pass with 10 laps to go and was never challenged again.
Due to increased track temperatures, the pace was much slower in race two. But Davies was on a tear, and finished the 20-lap race 1.840 seconds ahead of Torres. Haslam was able to overhaul Rea and Sykes for the final podium position.
Fresh from winning the 2015 Superbike World Championship title, Rea earned fourth ahead of race-one winner Sykes who seemed to suffer in the hotter conditions.
The top 10 was completed by Baiocco, Pirro, Camier, and Mercado.
Canepa finished 11th after starting on the front row aboard his Althea Racing Ducati with Salom finishing 12th.
Michael van der Mark crashed his Pata Honda out of the podium fight with five laps to go. The Dutchman was once again in contention until he lost the front at turn 9. He rejoined to salvage three points with 13th at the flag.
Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) was given a ride through penalty after pulling into the pit lane after a lap, a disappointing end to his weekend after a strong showing in race one.
2015 Jerez World Superbike Results – Photo Gallery
