Rea secures breathtaking Assen double

Jonathan Rea has taken a second World Superbike win of the day after prevailing over a number of riders in one of the tightest, most competitive races seen in some years at Assen.

A mesmerising race that saw eight riders and six different manufacturers vying for victory at times, there was often very little to choose between Rea, Troy Corser, Leon Haslam, Leon Camier and James Toseland as they diced up front.

Much like the first race, however, it would take a daring charge by a rival, in this case Haslam, during closing stages to prompt a response from Rea, the Northern Irishman snatching the lead back at the end of lap 15 before reeling off a series of fast times to gap Haslam by the chequered flag.

Once again, Rea was certainly made to work hard though as he was beaten into the opening bend by Corser's BMW, but while he'd grab the initiative back by the end of the first lap - with an identical move to the one that won him the earlier race - the Australian struck back on lap four to move ahead again.

Behind the top two, Haslam ran third, the Suzuki rider determined to make amends for the first race when his pace was blunted by a slow puncture, while Camier would settle into fourth.

Behind them, Toseland had hauled himself up to sixth, behind Jakub Smrz, while Max Biaggi, Shane Byrne, Carlos Checa and Cal Crutchlow kept a watching brief just behind.

Back at the front, Corser, Rea and now Haslam came into close contact as they disputed the lead once more, but while both Rea and Haslam would get the better of Corser on lap five, the Australian would find himself back ahead for the third time by lap ten.

Indeed, the close proximity of the riders would also see Rea bundled down to fourth at one stage when a bold pass by Haslam at the final corner chicane gave Camier the momentum to drag himself up to third. However, when Camier subsequently ran wide out of turn one, Rea and Toseland slipped back in front, the pair lucky not to come together in the process.

Haslam, meanwhile, was straight onto the back of Corser, producing another of his trademark moves through the final corner chicane to move into the lead for the first time. Corser's attempts to fight back would see the pair swap positions again, but when Haslam dipped beneath the BMW soon after, he would drag Rea through too.

With the top eight - reduced after Cal Crutchlow retired and Shane Byrne ran off the circuit - split by just a single second with just seven laps remaining, it still remained to be seen whom would emerge ahead by the chequered flag.

It was at this point that Rea began to make his bid for victory, passing Haslam at turn one after his rival made a mistake through the final bend. Undeterred Haslam fought back, only for Rea nose in front again, before the pair swapped positions over the home straight, the sparring two eventually emerging in the order of Rea followed by Haslam.

Now with clear track in front of him, Rea wasted no opportunity in attempting to extend his advantage over his rivals as he dropped back into 1min 36secs bracket, leaving Haslam floundering in second and struggling to respond.

Meanwhile, those disputing third had fallen away from the lead fight after an error by Corser allowed Toseland and Camier in front of him, the Australian again watching his chances of getting on the podium with BMW for the first time slipped away from him.

Toseland and Camier weren't finished with one another though, Camier finally completing a successful move on his countryman at turn twelve after several failed attempts earlier in the race.

What it did do, however, was leave them with too much work to do to catch up with the leading group, Rea's late spurt to the finish line actually seeing him take victory by a comfortable 1.9secs - the largest winning margin of any rider so far this season and one that belies the race's competitiveness.

Following the disappointment of his 11th place finish in race one, Haslam was a delighted second, a result that means he leaves Assen having added two more points to his margin in the overall standings.

Fittingly, the result of the final podium position would go down to the wire, but only after Camier, who having pulled away from Toseland after passing him, ran wide on the exit of turn 14, the reigning BSB champion getting the Aprilia up on the kerbs and losing the rear end. Although the RSV-4 was badly damaged as it somersaulted around him, Camier walked away unharmed.

As such, Toseland was promoted to third for a second podium finish of the day, while Biaggi got the better of Corser towards the end of the race to finish fourth.

Having been considered the 'danger man' before the race, Checa couldn't quite get on terms with the lead fight as he settled for sixth, but his result did ensure that six different manufacturers would finish inside the top six positions.

With Checa followed by fellow privateer Ducati riders Jakub Smrz and Shane Byrne, it proved to be another embarrassing race for the factory Xerox team as Noriyuki Haga limped into retirement with a technical issue having run off the circuit at the first corner, while Michel Fabrizio ran inside top ten initially before fading to a lowly 12th.

Ahead of him, Max Neukirchner and Ruben Xaus gave their flagging seasons a bit of a boost in ninth and tenth positions respectively, while Luca Scassa secured his best finish at WSBK level in 11th on the Supersonic Ducati.

Behind Fabrizio, Sylvain Guintoli was a disappointing 13th on the second Suzuki, ahead of Chris Vermeulen, who scored his first points for Kawasaki in 14th, while Matteo Baiocco got Pedercini Kawasaki off the mark in 15th.