World Superbikes: Jonathan Rea earns fifth straight title after Magny-Cours win

Jonathan Rea became the first rider to win four successive World Superbike titles last season

Jonathan Rea secured a fifth straight World Superbike title with two rounds to spare after taking victory in Race Two at Magny-Cours.

The Northern Irishman, 32, becomes the first rider to win five World Superbikes titles.

His nearest rival Alvaro Bautista exited early in Race Two after being taken out by Toprak Razgatlioglu.

Turkey's Razgatlioglu beat Rea in Sunday morning's Sprint Race which was same one-two as Saturday's Race One.

That meant victory for the Kawasaki rider in Race Two was guaranteed to land him the title if Spaniard Bautista finished outside the top 11.

Bautista looked set to challenge strongly in Race Two before Razgatlioglu's mistake on lap two led to both riders exiting which left Rea in second spot just behind Dutchman Michael van der Mark.

Rea and Van der Mark swapped the lead before the Northern Irishman moved ahead on lap 11.

The defending champion gradually edged clear of the Dutchman to secure the victory that ensured his five-in-a-row.

Rea (right) trailed Alvaro Bautista (left) by 61 points early in the season but soon reeled in the Spaniard

Rea's win completing his astonishing comeback from a 61-point deficit which Bautista held after winning the first 11 races of the campaign.

"This was probably the toughest season of my life both from a mechanical and a mental point of view," an emotional Rea told British Eurosport.

"We managed to keep with it...keep believing in the project and never give up when things looked like they were never going to happen.

"All those seconds at the beginning of the year....that's what won the championship. I never even though about the championship [at that stage]."

Van der Mark held on for second ahead of England's Alex Lowes with Welsh rider Chaz Davies in fourth spot.

Bautista won the first 11 races of the season to build a 61-point advantage over Rea but crashes at four consecutive rounds in Spain, Italy, Great Britain and the United States dealt a serious setback to his title chances.

Rea's triumph betters Carl Fogarty's tally of four WSB titles and equal compatriot Joey Dunlop's achievement of five consecutive Formula One world titles between 1982 and 1986.

The Northern Irishman has won 12 races this season, including two at the last round in Portugal, with Bautista occupying the top step of the podium on 15 occasions.