It was all looking like it would work like a charm for Jonathan Rea’s title hopes going into the final WorldSBK race at Magny-Cours. Two wins done, and just finish in front of Scott Redding to seal a sixth successive championship, it all looked under control
And it almost was until Rea’s lack of ideal set-up for the largely drying track surface allowed first Redding, then Baz, then Davies to pass him and keep him behind to the flag.
Davies was last to make a move, inside into the long last corner with lots of laps left, but Rea could not quite get do anything to make a move back stick.
He did think about a bold move, to get the third place that would have ended the title fight this weekend, but he finally had one too many warnings.
“I had an angel here and the devil here,” said Rea, indicating to his shoulders. “They were fighting a lot but with two laps to go I had a huge moment in T1 and a lot of backing in, a front slide.
"Then I relaxed a little bit. Where I was making my time compared to Chas was in opposite sides of the track. I was much better in the chicanes and through T1, 2 and 3, but he took too much time out of five and the exit of 13, so this was the race. This was my best and what we had today.”
Rea, being the hardcore racer he is, obviously wanted the championship wrapped up now but when asked if he thought that it would be better for the image of a very short championship season if the title fight went all the way to the final round, he said, “I don’t care when, and I said that before the weekend.
"I just want to win, that’s the target at the start of the year. Of course you want to win at the best pace, with the least risk, and today it wasn’t possible. I am happy to go to Estoril. Scott is doing a good job this year he is constantly there or thereabouts but to take 12 points out of him on the weekend would be a tall enough order.
"I had hopes to do it here but I guess for the championship it is OK. I need to score a few points, three points, and I have three opportunities in Estoril.”
All season Rea has adopted a ‘win the races to win the title’ philosophy - one that has obviously served him well - but now there is seemingly more to worry about.
The big goal is the championship. I really want to win the championship, like other people do. It is not win the race at all costs. In lap one Scott showed me his intention, he completely drove me into T8 and I could see how desperate he was to win, so I thought, 'OK, you can have this race. I do not really care.' I am not prepared to go over my head to win a race. It is more about being clever. If we do that we should get it done.”
Two wins to one fourth seems like a big drop for Rea, like something is lacking, but it was all about the drier track conditions and how it affected his pace. “I lacked water on the track! With a lot more water on the track we could be more competitive. The temperature inside especially the rear tyre was so high, because of a lot of spinning and no surface water to move. Just a damp track.
"The tyre was not performing at its best. Engine brake strategies were working great but just in the initial traction of T5 and T13 I was struggling too much. I have three more opportunities in Estoril. That is the way I looked at it. Scott has to win three races and hope that do not finish three races. I might keep my motocross bike in the garage this week! That might be the only difference I might change in my approach to next weekend!”
