Step Racing Honda rider Gino Rea says he had well-deserved luck on his side after capturing his maiden World Supersport win at Brno in the Czech Republic on Sunday.

The British rising star made the most of his front row starting position to record his first ever win in this class of racing and also post the first WSS race win for Honda in 2011.

Rea, fourth on the grid, was leading the field on the penultimate lap as the red flag was shown. He had led for 10 laps before the red flag was thrown and with the results counted back to lap 15, Rea was awarded the win by 0.448 seconds from Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda).

“It was so strange sitting at the front of a race,” he admitted. “I just tried to get my head down and not make any mistakes after I lost the front on the second lap.

“I saved it on my elbow for the second time this weekend so I just tried to run my own race and be a bit protective of my lines, getting a good exit so they could not come past me down the straight.

“I knew Fabien was behind me, but I held it to the finish. Unfortunately we did not get to the last lap because we had a few little things planned to stay in front. I was not showing my all, let’s put it that way.

” I was saving my tyres a bit and I knew Fabien would be strong on the brakes and he could go into corners early. I was going in really wide to get good drive, but it never went down to the last lap anyway.

“I have to be honest, I got a bit of luck at the end, but I think it is about time we deserved a bit of luck.”

Rea now sits eighth in the world championship standings after a luckless start to the season in 2011.