Jonathan Rea: Six-time champion from Sunday’s World Superbike races at Magny-Cours

Jonathan Rea has been ruled out of Sunday’s World Superbike race at Magny-Cours following his crash in Saturday’s first race.

The six-time champion underwent surgery on a graze on his right thumb on Saturday evening.

Rea’s disappointing season on his Yamaha debut continued with his opening lap crash on Saturday in wet conditions.

Rea confirmed he would not be present on Sunday and thanked “my team, my fans and all my sponsors who continue to support me during this difficult period”.

In Rea’s absence, Italian driver Nicolo Bulega cut Toprak Razgatlioglu’s championship lead to 80 points by winning the Super Pole race on Sunday morning.

Ducati rider Bulega held his own in a thrilling duel with Britain’s Alex Lowes, while Italian Danilo Petrucci completed the podium places.

Razgatlioglu was sidelined from the French round through injury after claiming his thirteenth consecutive series win in the previous round in Portugal.

Defending champion Alvaro Bautista, who was second behind Michael van der Mark in the first race, crashed on the first lap of the Superpole race in a crash that also involved Britain’s Bradley Ray.

Bulega took the win despite a shoulder injury he sustained when he crashed on the first lap on Saturday.

Lowes, who slid off the race on lap 11 while leading on Saturday, is now just 21 points behind third-placed Bautista in the championship. The Spaniard’s chances of retaining his title look slim, as he trails Razgatlioglu by 122 points.

The second race will take place later on Sunday afternoon at Magny-Cours.