Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) finished fourth and ninth in the 2012 FIM Superbike World Championship races at Silverstone today, after two races that were adversely affected by weather conditions and rider crashes.

Jonathan was fourth in a remarkable race one, which finally went to the full 18-lap distance after a restart when four riders fell in the first attempted running.

A huge number of changes of position and a frenetic final lap of risk by the leading riders saw Rea cross the line 0.539 seconds from the winner Loris Baz (Kawasaki). The rider immediately in front of Jonathan, Ayrton Badovini (BMW) highsided as he crossed the line and Jonathan crashed into his machine, without injury, and then slid down the finish straight. Rea had been tenth after superpole, having struggled to get to grips with the Silverstone layout and surface conditions after losing track time in practice due to poor weather.

In race two Jonathan had another highly disturbed race, with rain falling just before the schedule start. The race was eventually classified – with half points – on lap eight, as it was red flagged on lap ten after several riders fell on a newly wet track made treacherous by a suspected fuel spill. Jonathan was ninth in the final classification, despite falling on lap nine. Sylvain Guintoli (Ducati) won race two.

In the championship points, Max Biaggi has 274, Marco Melandri 263.5, Tom Sykes 222.5, Checa 220.5 and Rea 203.5.

Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team) ended his day in 13th place after race one and then 14th in race two, scoring good points on a day where merely finishing both races was an achievement in itself. He is now 17th in the rankings, with 41.5 points.

A new adventure for all in the SBK paddock will take place on Sunday 22 August when the series heads to Russia for the first time in its 25-year history.

Honda Riders Dominate The Top Four Places

Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) and Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda) finished 1-2 at Silverstone in the FIM Supersport World Championship race after a close contest, which included a contact between the riders on the final complex of corners. Lowes had attempted to get back the lead he had enjoyed for most of the 16-lap race, but after a moment when both riders were forced off line after their touch, Cluzel and Lowes swept across the line on a good day for the CBR600RR riders.

Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) was part of the four-rider group that dominated proceedings on an eventually completely dry track at Silverstone, after many wet periods of practice had held up the business of finding a good set-up. He was to hold off the push of PTR Honda rider Ronan Quarmby in the final laps, after Quarmby missed a gear and that break in his rhythm allowed Parkes to get within 0.591 seconds of winner Cluzel. Jules has now won races at Silverstone in the Moto2 and WSS classes.

This was Cluzel’s second win of the year and one that drew him closer to both Lowes and championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki), who was only fifth today. In the overall points at the top of the table, Sofuoglu has 148, Lowes 134 and Cluzel 120, with Parkes in fifth place, on 98 points. Quarmby, only 2.068 seconds from Cluzel after 16-laps moved up to seventh in the championship thanks to his 13 points for fourth place today. There will be four rounds to run now, with confirmation that the Portimao round is definitely on.

The first attempted race was started then stopped after riders fell on the tricky track conditions, so a complete re-run was called, causing some other support classes to be run after the second Superbike race.

The Honda riders at Silverstone finished their raceday in blocks, with tenth place Gabor Talmacsi (PRORACE Honda) heading up a much-improved Mathew Scholtz (Bogdanka PTR Honda) who was 11th, and Roberto Tamburini (Lorini Honda) 12th.

Raffaele de Rosa (Lorini Honda) took the final point on offer for 15th place, one up on stand-in rider Alex Lundh (Bogdanka Honda PTR) and two ahead of fifth place qualifier Imre Toth (Racing Team Toth Honda). Martin Jessopp (Riders PTR Honda) finished his home race but out of the points in 21st place.

Valentin Debise (SMS Racing Honda) and Balazs Nemeth (Racing Team Toth Honda) failed to finish, while Danilo Marrancone (Kuja Racing Honda) also scored a DNF.

Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team):
Race result: 4th / 9th - Championship position: 5th

“Race one was just crazy, but I enjoyed because I knew it would be tough to race for a win, but we genuinely had a shot at it there! I got a bit wide a one the first lap and the rear came round when I hit the kerb and I was dead last. But I never gave up and it was nice to be in the hunt for a race win until the last corner, which gave me motivation for race two. That was strange starting on full wets when the track wasn’t completely wet – it was difficult for everyone. I was looking after my tyre at the beginning, which is why I was so far back, but when the monsoon came I started to push a little bit. My crash, like pretty much everybody else’s out there happened on the rear tyre, which has no grip. There have been so many crashes in the wet like that this year - off the gas, at the apex – it’s getting a bit frustrating. Overall, we took points out of the championship leaders, so it’s not been a bad job today. To come out with a fourth and a ninth is better than I expected last night, so we’ll take these results and move on.”

Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team):
Race result: 13th / 14th - Championship position: 17th

“Both races were very tough because of the conditions and we had two starts to each race. So we had to think a lot which tyre was the right one to choose, and each time I think we made the correct choice. In race one I finished 13th and it was tough because we had rain in the middle of the race, but it had already been declared wet, so we had to keep going. I think my lap times were not too bad; I just lost a bit of time early in the race, which was a pity. Race two was strange because we had to put on a rain tyre without real rain to start, but the last part of the race there was a lot of water and some petrol on the track. I tried to stay on the bike just to finish. I thought I was 12th but the final result is 14th, which was a pity.”

Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda):
Race result: 1st - Championship position: 3rd

“That was a hard race, but I had my race plan I wanted to do and I stuck to it. I drafted Sam on the last lap,but then he came back at me on the final corner and we touched, it was very close. I am pleased to win and also very happy to enjoy racing here and the feeling I have with my PTR Honda. It is good for us in the Championship as well, I am happy to be third again and close in on the riders in front.”

Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda):
Race result: 2nd - Championship position: 2nd

“The race was not too bad because we did not know if it was going to be wet or dry and it in the end it was dry so that was nice. I struggled a little in the lead because I did not have awesome pace, but I wanted to keep in front and did as much as I could. I knew Jules would have a go and my move on the last lap probably was not the best, but I just wanted to win so badly. So I apologise to him and well done to him for his win, and to Broc for an all-Honda podium. Sorry that I did not win the race, but I tried my best and hopefully we can put that right in Russia. I'm a racer and I always aim to win, so bring on Moscow.”

Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda):
Race result: 3rd - Championship position: 5th

“It was a good race and just a shame to be the last Honda on the podium not the first! The two boys up front were really quick and Quarmby the other one that was there, I started from 18th on the grid so to get on the podium means we had a good day. I am very happy with that. In the middle of the race I was struggling to stay and at one time I had to pick the bike up and lost a lot of time so I could not be there for the last two laps. I tried very hard, but third is good and two podiums in a row now, so I have to thank the Ten Kate Honda team as they always work very hard for me over the last two races in particular and it has made a big difference.”

Ronan Quarmby (PTR Honda):
Race result: 4th - Championship position: 7th

“I really enjoyed that race and was right with Jules and Sam until I made a small mistake and Parkes came past me. After that it was hard to get back with them, but I am delighted with fourth and want to say thank you to the PTR Honda team for giving me such a good bike, it's been a very strong and positive weekend.”

Mathew Scholtz (Bogdanka PTR Honda):
Race result: 11th - Championship position: 28th

“The first start was very bad for me. I lost a few positions and then got taken out from behind. The handlebar had been snapped and when I pulled in, it took some time to fix it, so I had to take the restart from the pit-lane. I had a good pace and was doing the same times as the top six. It was a bit unlucky to be taken out, but I'm happy with scoring points and want to improve from that in the upcoming races.”

Martin Jessopp (Riders PTR Honda):
Race result: 21st - Championship position: 38th

“I didn't make the best of starts and then struggled to ride the bike the way a Supersport machine needs to be ridden. I am still riding it like a Superbike and that doesn't work. I will take the positives in that my lap times at the end of the race were good and my qualifying position and wet set up are good as well.”

Alex Lundh (Bogdanka Honda PTR):
Race result: 16th - Championship position: Not classified

"The first start was very good for me and I felt really confident with the bike, but then the race was red-flagged. The restart went very well too, but I was pushed wide and lost about five positions in one corner. It was a hard fight and there was quite a lot of traffic, but with a few laps to go, I got the feeling back and was actually 15th on the last lap, but was pushed out wide and lost a position. I still need more laps in the dry after not riding a Supersport bike since October. I'm happy with the qualifying and a bit disappointed about the race, but it was still a promising debut in the Bogdanka colours."

World Superbike and World Supersport 2012
Round 10: Silverstone – Great Britain

Superbike Race 1

Rank	Rider (Team)
1	L. BAZ (Kawasaki Racing Team)
2	M. FABRIZIO (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet)
3	A. BADOVINI (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet)
4	J. REA (Honda World Superbike Team)
5	C. CHECA (Althea Racing)
6	L. HASLAM (BMW Motorrad Motorsport)
7	M. MELANDRI (BMW Motorrad Motorsport)
8	T. SYKES (Kawasaki Racing Team)
9	D. GIUGLIANO (Althea Racing)
10	E. LAVERTY (Aprilia Racing Team)
11	M. BERGER (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing)
12	L. ZANETTI (PATA Racing Team)
13	H. AOYAMA (Honda World Superbike Team)
14	C. DAVIES (ParkinGO MTC Racing)
15	D. SALOM (Team Pedercini)

Superbike Race 2

Rank	Rider (Team)
1	S. GUINTOLI (PATA Racing Team)
2	L. BAZ (Kawasaki Racing Team)
3	J. SMRZ (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert)
4	E. LAVERTY (Aprilia Racing Team)
5	M. BERGER (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing)
6	C. CHECA (Althea Racing)
7	C. DAVIES (ParkinGO MTC Racing)
8	M. MELANDRI (BMW Motorrad Motorsport )
9	J. REA (Honda World Superbike Team)
10	J. HOPKINS (FIXI Crescent Suzuki)
11	M. BIAGGI (Aprilia Racing Team)
12	T. SYKES (Kawasaki Racing Team)
13	M. FABRIZIO (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet)
14	H. AOYAMA (Honda World Superbike Team)
15	N. CANEPA (Red Devils Roma)

Supersport

Rank	Rider (Team)
1	J. CLUZEL (PTR Honda)
2	S. LOWES (Bogdanka PTR Honda)
3	B. PARKES (Ten Kate Racing Products)
4	R. QUARMBY (PTR Honda)
5	K. SOFUOGLU (Kawasaki Lorenzini)
6	F. FORET (Kawasaki Intermoto Step)
7	S. MORAIS (Kawasaki Lorenzini)
8	A. BALDOLINI (Power Team by Suriano)
9	A. ANTONELLI (Bike Service R.T.)
10	G. TALMACSI (PRORACE)
11	M. SCHOLTZ (Bogdanka PTR Honda)
12	R. TAMBURINI (Team Lorini)
13	V. IANNUZZO (Power Team by Suriano)
14	R. LANUSSE (Kawasaki Intermoto Step)
15	R. DE ROSA (Team Lorini)