Rea took victory in the first flag-to-flag race of the year on Saturday, which w❀as his firꦗst WorldSBK win since round three of the season in Estoril.

However, Bauti🌠sta’s dry tyre gamble in the Superpole Race led him to victory before the Spaniard got the better of Rea until a red flag ended Race 2 with five laps remaining.🎶 

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Close in terms of performance throughout the weekend, Rea and Bautista once again delivered a show in Race 2. But after finishing more than 100 points behind Bautista in the championship, Rea🃏 had to concede that Ducati has now become the꧋ package to beat.

"It’s the story of our season really. As frustrating as it is, hu🎃ge kudos to Ducati,"&nbs🦹p;said Rea. "They’ve really excelled in their engine performance, let’s say, this year. 

"They’re really making us step up. It’s a good thing. This weekend, foꦜr sure, we crossed all the Ts and dotted all the Is in all🎃 the other areas of the setup. My bike was very stable on the brakes. 

"We were able to focus on the mechani🔥cal traction but just missing that little bit they have on the straight. The bikes were quite balanced over a lap. 

"The lap times were quite similar and, to be fair to Alvaro, it’s quite difficult to lead around here especially in the wind so he was creating a good referenಞce for me, just to be there."

While a hat-trick of wins looked like a realistic possibility following a well timed pit stop in Race 1 that led to his first🌼 victory in 25 races, Rea was still content with his podium finishes on Sunday after giving ‘everything’.

"We know the result. I ga☂ve everything," added the six-time WorldSBK champion🗹. "We can be quite satisfied with our efforts this weekend to go 1-3-2. 

"꧑Good overall p✱oints for the weekend. The conditions were almost like nothing I’ve ever seen in my career! Tyre decisions, pit stops, red flag in Race 2 with the conditions coming in. 

"From my weekend, I’m really happy with my team and the way I’m riding the bike. Even in Race 2 with Alvaro, I felt stronger ꦬeverywhere but the start-finish line. 

"They were taking so much time, but through Turn 1, Turn 2 and even Turn 3, with the traction, an area we’ve really struggled with in the past, I had more grip and t▨he tyre was very linear. 

"Big thanks to my team. Looking forward now to a little bit of rest before we start focusing on 2023. W🦂e ca🤡n be satisfied with our work this year."