Rea takes clean sweep at Imola

The action-packed fourth round of the 2014 Superbike World Championship at Imola total domination by the Dutch-based Pata Honda Team – Jonathan Rea easily winning both superbike races, while Lorenzo Zanetti came home with the goods in world supersport ahead of teammate Michael van der Mark.

Rea and van der Mark now lead the world superbike and supersport standings respectively.

FULL RESULTS AND STANDINGS

Chaz Davies (Ducati) was second in both 19-lap WSBK races, while world champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) and Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) shared the third places.

"It’s been a great weekend for me! I couldn’t have imagined doubling up coming here,” said Rea, who has now won three races on the trot. “But I knew we’d be strong because it’s a circuit I really enjoy and one that the bike goes really well at. We’ll try to make the bike better in tomorrow's official test and go to Donington hopefully to keep this ball rolling.

“I’m really enjoying riding right now and I want to thank everyone who’s put the work in. Not just the track staff here but the guys back at base in Nieuwleusen (Netherlands). It’s also the home round for our sponsors, Pata, so a big thanks to them, too."

In race one, polesitter Jonathan Rea took the lead from the start and by half distance Rea had moved clear of the chasing pack with a lead of almost two seconds. Behind Rea, a four-rider fight involving Davies, Sykes, Guintoli -- who had worked hard to bridge the gap after an off-track excursion lap two, Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) became more intense with every corner.

Giugliano then slid out of contention on lap 12, with Rea a 4.511-second winner from Davies, with Sykes another two seconds behind in third. The top six was completed by Baz, Guintoli and Marco Melandri (Aprilia), and in the EVO battle Leon Camier (BMW) came out on top.

Race two saw Rea emphatically completed the double, and the icing was moving into the championship lead by four points (139 to 135), over Sykes, with Guintoli (123) and Baz (119) close behind.

Baz, Sykes and David Giugliano (Ducati) finished in positions 4-6 in race two.

In world supersport, Zanetti was the victor in his home race after 17 tense laps, ahead of van der Mark and Florian Marino (Kawasaki).

Former champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) was kept under constant pressure for the entire race by Zanetti before retiring with four laps remaining, while polesitter Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta) lost any hope of a podium finish after running off track twice. The Frenchman was able to rejoin to finish the race in 15th.

Next round: Donington, May 23-25.