Estoril goes without fanfare after qualifying divided in half between Rea and Redding, who share the sessions and the spotlight.
The race, on the other hand, is a bit different, as the Ducati man, while never saying goodbye to the company for good, is still uncatchable.
It's dull, race1, because there are only minor skirmishes behind, while up front only Rea, who makes a mistake early in the race and pays dearly for it, works to catch Redding and Razgatlioglu, but only manages to bother the Turk.
After the trio, only Gerloff who humiliates Rinaldi while still pushing back in the standings, notable is only the comeback of Bautista, who is still not competitive but can be seen to be putting in his best. And the others? Badly the BMW, bad the other greens, bad a little bit everyone, with really embarrassing detachments.
In short, the SBK world championship is divided into three. Three-four protagonists, four-five nice guys, and a dozen staggering zombies to follow.
Minicommentary of the race.
Rea starts badly and handles the start of the race even worse, making mistakes and giving in to Razgatlioglu and Rinaldi.
Redding and the Turk, they go on the run, but it is an escape on sight because, in fact, they will remain within reach of the defending champion.
In one lap Rea makes up for it on Rinaldi and goes for the two in front.
The race is boring and played out on the elastic of tenths between the top three while behind them Rinaldi, Lowes, Gerloff and Laverty but well spaced out... just as Sykes collapses and when shortly afterwards we also break Laverty's dreams in the gravel.
With ten to go Rea is getting closer to the leading duo, actually closer to Razgatlioglu than the latter is to Redding.
The race ends in a sprint for second place at least while Redding has more to be comfortable. Something that looks a lot like a close second.
Redding,Razgagtliolu, Rea, Gerloff, Rinaldi, Davies, VDMark, Bautista, Rabat, Locatelli, these are the 10.
Pages
Redding
He doesn't do anything wrong today. He doesn't win by force, but comnunque he wins. He needs these serene confirmations.
Rated 10
Razgagtliolu
He is always consistent but always lacks something.
He is consistent, though, and the Yamaha haven't played something in a long time since Iwata .
Rated 9.5
Rea
It sounds like a defeat-and it is. But Rea at Estoril had never been on the podium. Today, on the other hand, he's even playing for something more at times. He is a Rea who can be content.
Rated 8.5
Gerloff
He plays strong when he can but unfortunately pays dearly for his departure.
The way he gets rid of Rinaldi is a real bully. Pure talent.
Rated 8.5
Rinaldi
Finally the awakening. He must not forget, though, that he rides an official Ducati . To do what he did at Go Eleven, he could have stayed there.
Rated 7
Davies
Beginning to realize that he is not riding an official bike and that good performances are the exception and not the rule.
Rated 6.5
VDMark
It's the best BMW but only after getting slapped by Laverty for 2/3 of the race. Not all that much to celebrate.
Rated 6
Bautista
The comeback is the only glimmer of light in an overall problematic situation. Bautista gives what he can; after all, Haslam was 15 seconds later.
Rated 6.5
Rabat
Almost good, finally Rabat. Let's hope it's the beginning of a redemption. He deserves it.
Rated 6
Locatelli
Subscriber to the top ten, do we realize?
He's a rookie and he's behind a lot of people more emblazoned than him.
Rated7