Race 1 of the Catalunya WorldSBK round was another dominant showing from Alvaro Bautista, after the reigning world champion le🔯d every lap and won by over eight seconds.

However, Razgatliogl♓u and Rea were once again best of the rest as they fought until the final corner.

• 🃏Rinaldi: Bassani an ‘average rider, ran into me on purpose to make me crash’ 
• Catalunya World Superbike Race (1) Resul🐬ts: Rampant Bautista wins again

Rea had been ahead of Razgatlioglu for the entire race before the Yamaha rider finally got close enough to chalꦑlenge the six-time champion into turn one.

Despite being out of shape on entry to turn one, Razgatlioglu managed to bring his R1🍎 to the apex and hold off Rea for the remain🗹der of the lap.

"In the race,🍰 I enjoyed it as we’re not riding on the limit to keep the rear tyre," said🔯 Razgatlioglu. "I am very happy to be riding with the legend, and this is good as we forget about Alvaro as he’s very strong at this track. 

"I enjoy𒅌ed it with Jonny and I was waiting until the last lap, but also I was on the ꧙limit on the last lap as the tyres had a big drop. I just tried to get the best position. 

"I got ah𒐪ead of Jonny on the last lap and tried to take the best line. I am happy with P2. I tried hard braking but with the strong winds, it wasn’t easy to get the bike to stop. 

"The fཧront tyre didn’t have good grip in the final lap, but I tried my best like in every race. We didn’t feel good at the start of 🧸the weekend, but I am happy now."

For Rea, Race 1 in Catalunya was one of his strongest performances of the season as tyre life wღas not an issue unlike previous rounds. 

And while his ZX-10RR was ‘turning on a꧟ sixpence’ in qualifying when using the softer Pirelli tyre, Rea is hoping a step can be made with regards to stopping ahead of Sunday’s double-header.

Rea added: "It’s always difficult when you see ‘0.1 Toprak’ on the pit board! Not just ♐one lap but every lap! 

"In the beginning, I was happy behind Bassani and Rinaldi but as soon as they lost track position, I was on my own at the front and it’s difficulꦓt to understand a strategy race ﷽like that. 

"When you’re at the front, I was trying to set a rhythm, pulling away from those behind but not pushing too 🌼hard to kill my tyre. Top꧑rak came by on the final lap but I could turn inside him at Turn 3 and Turn 4. 

"I have to thank the guys at KRT as we have good rear traction, we just need to improve in the stopping area in the latter stages with the front tyre. In Superpole, wi💝th the softer option front, the bike felt amazing and it was turning on a sixpence."