JONATHAN REA WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPION

As expected Jonathan Rea became World Superbike champion on Kawasaki after finishing fourth in Sunday's WSBK opening race at Jerez. The 28-year-old Arai RX-7 GP rider had a massive 144-point lead and needed only to finish in the top nine to be sure of the title. Not wanting to risk a mistake, Rea was overhauled by Dutchman Michael van der Mark who showed some real speed on his Pata Honda, the Dutchman claiming his third podium of the year ahead of the new World Champion and Leon Haslam, both also Arai RX-7 GP riders.Rea is the first motorcycling world champion from Northern Ireland since Joey Dunlop and Brian Reid in 1986 and the fifth British rider to win the World Superbike Championship Yorkshire rider Sykes won Sunday's opener in Jerez, with Welshman Chaz Davies the runner-up and Michael van der Mark, also an Arai RX-7 GP rider, of the Netherlands in third.It was the first time in 21 races that the Isle of man-based Rea had finished outside a rostrum position. At Arai we are very proud of Jonathans title, to celebrate Rea was given a special ?