Jonathan Rea made a strong comeback overcoming his recent problems to win his third World Superbike race of the season in a dominating fashion in the first race at Brno.
The Honda Ten Kate rider grabbed the lead with an outside pass on Max Biaggi on the final turn of the opening lap and with an impressive race pace, two to three tenths faster than the rest of the field, crossed the finish line with a 2.
5s advantage.
Max Biaggi took the second spot on the podium after taking the holeshot.
The Roman Emperor was first passed by Rea and then by Cal Crutchlow on lap two, before Ruben Xaus also decided to make his way past the Aprilia rider with a little paint exchanging for the third position.
While Biaggi and Xaus were battling it out, Crutchlow tried to reel in Rea, but his fellow country man was just to fast.
Crutchlow started to fade in the latter stages of the race and Biaggi who had shaken off Xaus on lap6 , starting pouring it on and in a matter of a few laps was on the tail of the Sterigarda Yamaha.
Biaggi on the sixteenth lap passed Crutchlow, which was promptly returned and Biaggi waited another lap before passing Crutchlow and this time making it stick.
Crutchlow would finish safely in third making it four third places this season.
Sylvain Guintoli had another good race finishing in fourth, while BMW’s sole rider, after Troy Corser’s withdrawl, Ruben Xaus took fifth, his best result so far this season.
Noriyuki Haga fended off a charging James Toseland to take sixth.
Leon Haslam could manage a lowly eighth place and giving up more precious points in the standings to rival Max Biaggi.
Ninth and tenth went to Carlos Checa and Lorenzo Lanzi, both privateer Ducati riders.
Only fifteen riders crossed the under the chequered flag, with everyone getting points, Max Neukichner lost the front of his SBR 1000RR at the first turn wiping out Chris Vermeulen and Jakub Smrz.
Luca Scassa crashed out on the fourth lap and was left visibly limping, while Leon Camier DNF’d with clutch problems, as did Michel Fabrizio who had engine problems with his Ducati.
WSBK Brno Race 1 Results:01- Jonathan Rea – HANNspree Ten Kate Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – 20 giri in 40′16.
03702- Max Biaggi – Aprilia Alitalia Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 2.
51803- Cal Crutchlow – Yamaha Sterilgarda Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 4.
07104- Sylvain Guintoli – Team Suzuki Alstare – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 7.
16005- Ruben Xaus – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 8.
60206- Noriyuki Haga – Ducati Xerox Team – Ducati 1198 – + 11.
37907- James Toseland – Yamaha Sterilgarda Team – Yamaha YZF R1 – + 11.
51308- Leon Haslam – Team Suzuki Alstare – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 16.
48709- Carlos Checa – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 20.
82910- Lorenzo Lanzi – DFX Corse – Ducati 1198 – + 25.
16411- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX 10R – + 32.
60212- Shane Byrne – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 36.
74813- Broc Parkes – ECHO CRS Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 39.
18314- Roger Hayden – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX 10R – + 59.
88915- Matteo Baiocco – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX 10R – + 1′05.
329