Jonathan Rea wins World Superbike race in Netherlands

Jonathan Rea is up to fourth in the Riders' Championship standings

Northern Ireland's Jonathan Rea won a thrilling Superbike race in Assen and immediately followed it up with another podium placing.

Honda rider Rea took his first win of the season by beating Jakub Smrz of the Czech Republic and Italian Max Biaggi.

Rea was third in race two which was won by Carlos Checa who increased his Championship lead over Biaggi to 43.

The Ballyclare man won the battle with Marco Melandri for third when the Yamaha rider fell.

Eugene Laverty from Toomebridge claimed sixth and seventh placings and lies ninth in the overall standings.

World Superbike Championship round three

Race One: 1 Jonathan Rea (Gbr) Honda 35mins 46.486secs, 2 Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia 35:47.225, 3 Carlos Checa (Spa) Ducati 35:50.058, 4 Marco Melandri (Ita) Yamaha 35:55.994, 5 Michel Fabrizio (Ita) Suzuki 35:56.378, 6 Troy Corser (Aus) BMW 35:57.606.

Race Two: 1 Carlos Checa (Spa) Ducati 35mins 38.693secs, 2 Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia 35:39.217, 3 Jonathan Rea (Gbr) Honda 35:42.277, 4 Leon Camier (Gbr) Aprilia 35:44.606, 5 Leon Haslam (Gbr) BMW 35:55.609, 6 Eugene Laverty (Gbr) Yamaha 35:56.068.

Riders' Championship: 1 Carlos Checa (Spa) Ducati 132pts, 2 Max Biaggi (Ita) Aprilia 89, 3 Marco Melandri (Ita) Yamaha 85, 4 Jonathan Rea (Gbr) Honda 79, 5 Leon Haslam (Gbr) BMW 68, 6 Leon Camier (Gbr) Aprilia 50.