Van der Mark wins, Rea crashes out again

Michael van der Mark won the Superpole race at Portimao but Jonathan Rea stole the headlines after he crashed out from the lead.

Rea, the reigning world champion, was under pressure heading into the Superpole Race having crashed in Race 1 on Saturday. That saw riders' championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu move 45 points ahead.

Razgatlioglu got the better of Rea into Turn 1, but Rea battled back to take the lead of the race on Turn 5. But as he began to eke out an advantage, the Kawasaki rider slid off the damp racetrack and out of the race altogether.

Van der Mark, a master in the wet conditions, was patient as he worked his way to the head of the race, eventually celebrating his first win of 2021 and the first win for BMW in nine years.

The Dutchman was followed by the ever-consistent Scott Redding on his Ducati, while Loris Baz secured the final podium finish.

SUPERPOLE RACE RESULTS:

1 Michael Van Der Mark - NED - Motorrad BMW WorldSBK Team - 10 Laps
2 Scott Redding - GBR - Aruba.It Ducati - +5.330s
3 Loris Baz - FRA - GoEleven Ducati - +7.066s
4 Andrea Locatelli - ITA - PATA Yamaha - +9.264s
5 Alvaro Bautista - SPA - Team HRC - +9.753s
6 Toprak Razgatlioglu - TUR - PATA Yamaha - +16.745s
7 Axel Bassani - ITA - Motocorsa Ducati - +19.047s
8 Garrett Gerloff - USA - GRT Yamaha - +19.115s
9 Eugene Laverty - IRL - Motorrad BMW WorldSBK Team - +20.901s
10 Isaac Vinales - SPA - Orelac Racing Kawasaki - +28.997s
11 Leandro Mercado - ARG - MIE Honda Racing - +31.057s
12 Samuele Cavalieri - SPA - Barni Ducati - +38.997s
13 Jonas Folger - GER - Benovo BMW - +41.330s
14 Tito Rabat - ITA - Kawasaki Puccetti - +51.079s
15 Gabrielle Ruiu - ITA - B-Max Racing Team - +55.894s
16 Christophe Ponsson - FRA - Gil Yamaha - +56.194s
17 Lachlan Epis - AUS - Pedercini Kawasaki - +1'23.343s
18 Leon Haslam - GBR - Team HRC - DNF
19 Kohta Nozane - JPN - GRT Yamaha - DNF
20 Jonathan Rea - GBR - Kawasaki Racing Team - DNF
21 Michael Rinaldi - ITA - Aruba.It Ducati - DNF
22 Loris Cresson - BEL - Pedercini Kawasaki DNF