Having expected his best chance of a debut World Supersport victory to come on 'home' asphalt at Brands Hatch next month, Jonathan Rea nonetheless grew from Brno novice on Friday, to race winner on Sunday in the Czech Republic.
Rea got a good start from seventh on the grid and finished the first lap in third, behind Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate Andrew Pitt and Yamaha's race leader Broc Parkes.
In a typically tight WSS race, Rea and Pitt swapped places while chasing their way to the front of the field, with Pitt briefly taking the lead on lap four. Rea then dropped back to sixth after a mistake under braking, while fellow Brit Craig Jones led the way.
Jones suffered technical problems on lap 13, while a determined Rea managed to regain all of the lost ground and take the lead on the penultimate lap. Rea then held off his Australian team-mate by just 0.020secs at the line after a thrilling last lap duel.
"I am really happy, to come to a new circuit and to win is a really good result," said Rea. "I wasn't expecting to win here and was putting all my expectations on
Brands Hatch. We knew from Saturday morning's free practice that we had the pace to run up front and fight for a win.
"I want to thanks Andrew, we have worked hard together as a team to find a set of tyres that worked for both of us over a race distance. While all the others were going out on a one-lap mission, Andrew and me put a race set-up together," he revealed.
Second place for Pitt increased his world championship lead to 32 points over nearest rival Josh Brookes, with Rea currently fifth - 41 points from the top - but not counting himself out.
"The championship is not all but lost for me now; I just need to start building some momentum with Brands Hatch and
Donington coming up. Two tracks I know well and am really looking forward to," he declared.
"It is great to see Jonathan claim his first ever Supersport victory here today ahead of the Brand Hatch round," said team manager Ronald ten Kate. "He made a big step forward in the championship, as has Andrew Pitt, who has extended his lead to 32 points."
