Source: Supplied.

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea says an overnight set-up change between races one and two worked like a dream, allowing him to secure a five second victory in the final affair at Laguna Seca’s eighth stop of the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).

The set-up change came despite a victory in Saturday’s opening race, which the Irishman believes gave him greater confidence in the front-end of his ZX-10RR.

“I expected to be strong here but I had no idea how strong,” Rea explained. “Two weekends in a row now, Brno and here, we have been the reference. Weekends like that do not happen all the time so we have to really absorb it and enjoy the moment. A double win at Laguna in the sunshine – it does not get much better.

“There are so many people out around the track. A massive thanks to all my crew, especially Pere because even though we won yesterday with a margin, last night he changed the bike completely and gave me some more confidence in the front. It worked a dream.

“It was one of those races where I could absorb what was happening, the crowd, the weather, where I was – it really was an incredible race.”

Rea now holds a a significantly healthy 75-point lead in the championship standings, as the series visits Misano in Italy on 6-8 July, marking the ninth stop of tour.