This was one of those races people will remember for a long time, and rightly so, it was a belter!
Countless lead changes and different race leaders, a track that lends itself to bold and aggressive riding and the top six, yes SIX covered by less than half a second over the finishing line.
To add extra interest for UK fans there were a couple of hard charging British riders in the lead battle as Rea was joined in the melee by Craig Jones, and there aren't many who ride harder than the tail sliding Parkalgar Honda man.
It was experience that showed in the end though as Pitt, a former Supersport champion and
MotoGP rider, just managed to edge across the Assen finishing line ahead of Rea.
Both Ten Kate riders had been perhaps the most consistent front runners throughout the race, but were joined by at times 10 other potential race winners as the pack chased each other round the sweeps of the historic Dutch venue.
Championship leader Joan Lascorz emphasised his sheer class by riding with the two Ten Kate riders for most of the race, and like Pitt was particularly strong in to the vital last chicane, scene of so many dog fights over the years in motorcycle races at Assen.
Lascorz led for a while, but did not have the speed to get away as Rea and Pitt, who must have passed each other for the lead five or six times during the race, held sway up front.
Jones looked the most aggressive in the field but his forcefulness was also his undoing and the Englishman, though capable of making some truly awesome passing moves, often ran wide and allowed rivals to re-pass him again.
It would be impossible to run through all of the moves in the race as there were so many, but as the final laps came round Rea had managed to get in front. Last years BSB runner up was very strong in the fast sweeping bends in the last chicane and had passed many riders there.
Pitt and Lascorz were right with the Irishman into the chicane but as Pitt dived up the inside, Rea rolled off the brakes again and tried to lean on the Aussie.
