Jonathan Rea's return to the World Superbikes circuit after a significant injury has been less than triumphant. At the Cremona rounds, the Northern Ireland rider finished 16th in the superpole race and 18th in the second race, marking a tough comeback. Rea, a six-time world champion, missed the first three rounds of the season due to foot fractures sustained during a testing crash at Phillip Island in February.

After undergoing surgery in Belfast and a period of recuperation, Rea returned to action in Italy. However, his performance was overshadowed by Nicolo Bulega, the Italian Ducati rider, who clinched victories in both races, extending his lead in the championship standings.

In the superpole race, Rea finished 19.2 seconds behind Bulega, who also dominated the second race with a 1.826-second lead over Toprak Razgatlioglu. Rea briefly held a points position in the second race but eventually fell to 18th, finishing 44 seconds off the pace.

Bulega's victories at Cremona mark his seventh win in the 12 races this season, significantly widening his championship lead. Meanwhile, Rea and his Pata Yamaha team-mate Andrea Locatelli struggled to make an impact, with Locatelli finishing eighth in the second race.

This weekend’s results highlight the challenges Rea faces in regaining his form post-injury, amidst a fiercely competitive field led by Bulega and Razgatlioglu.