VOLUME 57 ISSUE 38 SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 P25
"It was absolutely perfect," said
Davies. "The bike worked good
from the beginning and we made
a big change from yesterday to
today, with the rear, to try and
find some grip. It worked and it
was a totally different bike."
There was also a new podium
rider in the form of American
privateer Garrett Gerloff (GRT Ya-
maha) on a 2019-engine bike that
he was going to use to beat the
2020 full factory model of VDM in
race two—had he not made a mis-
take defending his line too hard
on the very last lap allowing VDM
a space to barge through.
Said Gerloff when he was told
that he was the first American
rider on the podium since his
friend Nicky Hayden in 2016, "I
didn't realize that, but it means so
much to me. I knew Nicky back in
the day, I got to know Nicky pretty
well, and he always, every time I
met him, he inspired me. He was
such a hard worker, so dedicated
to his racing and all he wanted
was to do was have good races
and performance. He was always
focused on doing whatever it took
to get results and that inspired
me. It showed me what it takes to
be a racer at the world level.
"I didn't know Nicky when he
won the world championship, but
I remember watching it and I was
just amazed. I was a 12-year-old
kid and it just let me know that
anything is possible.
"To be on the podium—and he
was the last guy? It is unreal man!
I still don't feel like I am here, like
it is a dream. I want more!"
It was all incredibly epic right
to the end but even before the
WorldSBK finale there were two
full-on races at Catalunya, the
first on Saturday over a full 20
laps and then the sprint on Sun-
day morning, over 10.
Race one was taken in sim-
ply masterful form by Rea, who
resisted any and all pressure
from eventual second-place rider
Redding, to go from pole to the
top step dripping in experience,
Michael van der Mark leads
American Garrett Gerloff en
route to the Superpole win.
