Britain’s Jonathan Rea said he put thoughts of protecting his sizeable championship lead to one side as he chased down Italian Davide Giugliano in race two in Misano to secure his 11th victory from 16 races.

The Northern Irishman was the sole rider to choose Pirelli’s harder ‘B’ compound rear tyre for race one believing the newly re-laid surface would be too abrasive for the softer option at this eighth round of 13 in the World Superbike Championships over the weekend.

It left the championship leader trailing his Kawasaki team-mate, Britain’s Tom Sykes, by 3.6 seconds at the flag and although a late rally ensured he passed Giugliano and held off Chaz Davies for second place, Rea felt the decision cost him a shot at victory.

Race two was different, as Rea went with a ‘A’ compound rear. The difference was immediately clear. On lap two he broke the official lap record and although thoughts on maintaining his 119 point championship lead had occurred, Rea said his desire to win caused him to push on to close down the early leader Giugliano.

“Obviously we have to start to think about the championship now but I wanted to win today,” said Rea, now 133 points clear of Sykes in the championship, nine points further ahead than when he started the day.

“In race two Davide Giugliano was a good marker to understand my pace and then with a few laps left I made a move to pass.

“We made a great race and I think at the end we are using our rear tyres better than some others. We changed our rear tyre choice from race one and that was always the plan, as the morning was a bit cooler.

“Kawasaki has given us a bike to win and they proved that today with Tom winning race one and me winning race two. I am so grateful to be in this position and to have the opportunity to fight to wins.”

RESULTS AND STANDINGS:

RACE ONE:

1. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 21 laps
   2. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +3.613
   3. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R +4.178s
   4. Davide Giugliano ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R +5.944s
   5. Leon Haslam GBR Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 +12.155s
   6. Max Biaggi ITA Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 +12.352s
   7. Ayrton Badovini ITA BMW Italia S1000RR +18.145s
   8. Michele Pirro ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R +18.145s
   9. Sylvain Guintoli FRA PATA Honda CBR1000RR +20.088s
   10. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Honda CBR1000RR +20.282s
   11. Leandro Mercado ARG Barni Ducati 1199R +24.195s
   12. Alex Lowes GBR Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +26.625s
   13. Leon Camier GBR MV Agusta F4 RR +26.719s
   14. Roman Ramos ESP GO Eleven Kawasaki ZX-10R+31.898s
   15. Matteo Baiocco ITA Althea Ducati 1199R +32.643s16. Markus Reiterberger GER BMW S1000 RR +36.833s
   17. David Salom ESP Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +42.514s
   18. Christophe Ponsson FRA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +70.247s
   19. Santiago Barragan ESP Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R +70.536s
   20. Gianluca Vizziello ITA Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R +88.191s
   21. Gabor Rizmayer HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR +98.856s
   22. Imre Toth HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR +1 lapDNF. Niccolò Canepa ITA Althea Ducati 1199R 7 laps
   DNF. Randy de Puniet FRA Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 11 laps
   DNF. Jordi Torres ESP Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 19 laps

RACE TWO:

1. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 21 laps
   2. Davide Giugliano ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R +1.290s
   3. Leon Haslam GBR Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 +2.436s
   4. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R +2.514s
   5. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R +5.694s
   6. Max Biaggi ITA Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 +5.911s
   7. Jordi Torres ESP Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 +7.075
   8. Michele Pirro ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R +10.159s
   9. Sylvain Guintoli FRA PATA Honda CBR1000RR +17.476s
   10. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Honda CBR1000RR +17.589s
   11. Ayrton Badovini ITA BMW Italia S1000RR +21.744s
   12. Niccolò Canepa ITA Althea Ducati 1199R +26.599s
   13. Markus Reiterberger GER BMW S1000 RR +30.402s
   14. Roman Ramos ESP GO Eleven Kawasaki ZX-10R+36.000s
   15. David Salom ESP Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +36.186s
   16. Leon Camier GBR MV Agusta F4 RR +37.572s
   17. Randy de Puniet FRA Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +37.572s
   18. Christophe Ponsson FRA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +70.593s
   19. Gianluca Vizziello ITA Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R +76.119s
   20. Santiago Barragan ESP Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R +76.177s
   21. Gabor Rizmayer HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR +91.041s
   22. Imre Toth HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR +2 lapsDNF. Matteo Baiocco ITA Althea Ducati 1199R 6 laps
   DNF. Alex Lowes GBR Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 13 laps
   DNF. Leandro Mercado ARG Barni Ducati 1199R 18 laps

STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 8 OF 13: