After finding himself a whopping 61 points down in the World Superbike Championship earlier in the season, Arai’s Jonathan Rea has managed to claw his way back into the points lead in his quest to win a fifth World Superbike title. At Misano, he took Superpole, then swept both races to move within 14 points of the championship lead. At the following race at Donington Park, he did it again, winning both races to score his 78th career World Superbike victory, and take over the championship lead by 24 points. At the Laguna Seca round, he won the first race and finished second in race two to extend his championship lead to 49 points.