A wet/dry thriller at Phillip Island sees Jonathan Rea end a 24-race winless run in WorldSBK - and Pedercini Kawasaki rider Kyle Smith lead a lap!
Rea came through for his first victory since May's Estoril round, and his sixth of the season, after timing his pitstop to perfection in a race that started on a wet-but-drying track and ended in almost bone dry conditions.
As Oettl plummeted down the field in a matter of corners, it was clear that the wet tyres were the correct option for the start, as poleman Bautista led the early exchanges from Razgatlioglu and Rea. Lowes followed Rea through to move into second, and at the end of the lap he was able to draft by his teammate to take the lead.
Next time by, Bautista was in, leaving Lowes alone at the head of the field, and it wasn't until lap 13 that the Briton finally pitted. Smith therefore enjoyed a spell in the lead before Rea inevitably passed him on lap 16, and the following lap Razgatlioglu eased by for second, albeit by now trailing Rea by five seconds.
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