Source: Supplied.

Defending Superbike world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) took a tight Assen victory over second-placed teammate Tom Sykes, as Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completed the podium in third on Sunday.

In his 200th WorldSBK race, Rea held his nerve to cross the line 0.025s ahead of Sykes as the Yorkshireman applied the pressure in the final stages.

It was Rea’s second win of the weekend, his seventh victory from eight races so far in 2017 and his 11th-career win at Assen, with maximum points from round four in the Netherlands putting the KRT man 64 points clear at the head of the standings.

It was a valiant effort for Sykes after his recent health issues and he will aim for his first win of 2017 next time out, in two weeks time at Imola.

After his cruel luck on Saturday, which saw Davies pull up with a technical problem with a lap to go when fighting for victory in race one, the Welshman bounced back with a fifth podium result of 2017 so far, in third place.

A good ride by Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) at his home round saw the Dutchman recover from a crash on Saturday to register a solid fourth place finish from 11th on the grid, ahead of
Yamaha colleague Alex Lowes.

Another Englishman Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) rode well for sixth, finishing just over a second ahead of Spaniard Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team).

The top 10 was completed by Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia), Nicky Hayden (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) and Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team).

There were crashes for Italian trio Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia), Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Riccardo Russo (Guandalini Racing) meaning no points for any of them. They will each have a chance to make amends at their home round in Italy at Imola in two weeks’ time.

The WorldSSP race at the Acerbis Dutch Round saw the reigning world champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) produce a masterclass to dominate from pole, with the Turk joined on the podium by Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) and Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda).

Leading Australian was Anthony West (EAB West Racing Yamaha) in P14, as Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki) retired from the race and Aiden Wagner has announced he’s departed the Lorini Honda team.

Meanwhile, Scott Deroue (MTM HS Kawasaki) secured a stunning victory in a thrilling WorldSSP300 race from Glenn van Straalen (Vos – TKR Racing) and Alfonso Coppola (SK Racing).

Winner of the Superstock 1000 race on Sunday at Assen was Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Pucetti Racing), as Mike Jones (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) unfortunately crashed out in a multi-rider incident. Glenn Scott (Agro On-Benjan Kawasaki) finished 25th.

The WorldSBK championship will be back in action over the 12-14 May weekend at the Motul Italian Round, hosted at Imola.