SBK, Rea blasts to Race 1 win ahead of Davies, Melandri out

Johnny Rea has proved that he is still the assassin. It wasn't quite as easy as some might have expected this time though. The Northern Irish rider was nevertheless able to put his stamp on Phillip Island today, scoring his first win of the season at the end of a thrilling head to head with Chaz Davies. Yes, the Welshman who, up until yesterday, didn't seem to be taking to the Australian track too well. The Welshman waited before making his move in the final stages, breathing down the neck of the number 1 Kawasaki. He tried in every which way, but in the end he missed out on the victory by 42 thousandths of a second.

Rea powers his ZX-10R back onto the throne, while Tom Sykes rounds out the first podium of the new year. The English rider closes ahead of a surprising Alex Lowes, fourth with the R1 in front of Camier and Forés. A bitter end for Marco Melandri, out on lap fourteen following contact with Lowes. And to think that the Italian as actually leading the race at the start, leaving the Kawasakis in difficulty. He sadly had to wave the white flag while fighting for the podium. Lorenzo Savadori was also forced to retire during the opening stages. Alex De Angelis fourteenth, Russo sixteenth followed by Badovini.