Rea overcomes hand injury to score popular Assen win
A great ride from Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) saw him overcome the pain of a hand injury suffered earlier in the day to win his first race of the year, at his team's home track. He also scored the first win for Honda in 2012.
Race one winner Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati) was second after his team-mate Jakub Smrz dropped back from his long time race two lead after choosing a wet front tyre. Smrz eventually crashed while trying to pass a lapped rider.
The battle for third went to Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing) his first podium of 2012.
His team-mate Max Biaggi is now leading the championship after finishing eighth in race two, one point ahead of Carlos Checa (Althea Racing). Checa gambled on rain tyres but as the track dried and the rain stayed away, he had to come into change his tyres and he ended up 17th - out of the points. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) dropped back from a potential podium finish to go sixth, and stay third in the overall championship fight, 13 points from Biaggi.
