2011 WSBK Assen Race 1 Result - Close Duel For Victory

Results and summary of World Superbike race 1 at Assen:

Johnny Rea has taken victory in the opening World Superbike race at Assen, picking up where he left off last year, when the Ulsterman scored a double the Ten Kate team's home race. Rea held off a race-long challenge from Max Biaggi to secure a clear victory.

Rea was on a mission from the start, getting off the line in third, behind pole sitter Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi, pushing Biaggi through the first part of the Northern Loop, but losing out before the pair entered the Strubben. He would not be denied, however, trying to wedge his Castrol Honda past the Alitalia Aprilia every opportunity he had.

He eventually succeeded into Turn 1 at the start of lap 3, and a lap and a corner later, he was also past Checa. Biaggi followed half a lap later, and the two started to edge away at the front. For nearly all of the race, Biaggi looked like being a real threat to Rea, sitting menacingly on the Castrol Honda's tail. But try as the Italian might, he could not get past Rea, and as the final laps ticked off, it was clear he would have to settle for 2nd. Rea's margin of victory was small, but understated the ease with which he had taken the win.

After being passed by Rea and Biaggi, Checa started drifting backwards, and was passed by a gaggle of riders including Tom Sykes, Troy Corser and Eugene Laverty. But as the halfway point approached, Checa started on his resurgence, working his way slowly forwards and passing the riders who had get ahead of him just a few laps previously. By lap 10, Checa was back chasing Rea and Biaggi, but despite closing on them, he could never get past, settling for 3rd, but happy to extend his championship lead over Marco Melandri without giving up too much to Biaggi.

Melandri ended the race in 4th, working his way through the field from 10th after a poor start. Melandri finished ahead of Michel Fabrizio, the Alstare Suzuki rider also having a strong chase through the field.

Results: