Rea storms to first Superbike win

Jonathan Rea fought off the attentions of Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga to win his maiden Superbike World Championship race in the second leg of an action-packed round at Misano, Italy, yesterday.

The Northern Irish Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider, who finished seventh in race one, battled it out with the Ducati Xerox pair before taking the victory. All three led before Rea and Fabrizio battled for the win on the last lap.

Rea passed Fabrizio going into the first corner and held a narrow advantage until they crossed the line, with championship points leader Haga just behind. The race was a reversal of fortunes for Haga and nearest title rival Ben Spies.

Spies had won race one but could only finish ninth in the second leg. Shane Byrne (Sterilgarda Ducati) finished sixth, Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike) seventh and Leon Haslam (Stiggy Racing Honda) eighth in race two.