Jonathan Rea enjoyed maiden victory in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in front of his enthusiastic home supporters at Mondello Park on a day that also saw Leon Haslam win for the first time this season.

The day however belonged to the HM Plant Honda rider. He had finished the opening race back in a fourth place in which Leon Haslam had powered his Airwaves Ducati to victory, but better things lay ahead for the 20 year old Ballyclare rider.

That revolved around Michelin tyre technician who recommended to him that he should use a different type of tyre for the second race. “It was a gamble, one that we had not used before, but he just said to me, trust me, go with it,” explained Rea. It was a winner as he overcame the intensive challenges coming in from former champion Shane Byrne aboard the Stobart Honda.

“To win here is just awesome, so important to me, but I have to thank Michelin. My tyre didn't work in the first race, and they gave me another I'd not used before. For me, this is just unbelievable. A great feeling and so important for me as it closes the gap on the leaders in the title chase.

“I've been so close so many times so to win my home round is so special and I just want to thank everyone who has believed in me over the years,” enthused Rea who later this week makes his MotoGP debut at Donington Park.

Byrne had to settle for second best, just as he had done in the earlier race when the determined Haslam had kept him at bay in a tense power struggle. “I could hear Shakey coming in close and I tried to smooth it out a bit, as I was pushing on so hard and went a bit wide,” explained Haslam, adding, “but I just managed to hold him off.

“It's been a real tough start to the season and we've had a lot of problems but I was confident that we had turned the corner at the Oulton Park round. We've been chipping away at it in every race and to be back winning now is fantastic and I'm certain things can only get even better now.”

Gregorio Lavilla finished third in each race and is now only one point down on series leader and reigning champion Ryuichi Kiyonari in the title stakes.

Marty Nutt and Tristan Palmer took the victories in the British Superbike Cup but James Buckingham, seventh in class in each race, maintains his lead in the rankings.

ends.