Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) was second, atoning for his first race crash local hero Michael van der Mark (Honda World Superbike Team) was third, and a surprise fourth place rider Lorenzo Savadori (IodaRacing Team Aprilia) have his team a happy second race outcome.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) placed fifth, Nicky Hayden (Honda World Superbike Team) sixth and Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) seventh.
The top ten, in a confused race at times, was completed by Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati).
Josh Brookes (Milwaukee BMW) had led for much of the race but after his tyre change he was to fall and not be able to restart.
At the start of the wet contest Sykes took an immediate lead and pulled it out to 1.5 seconds after three laps. Behind, with virtually all on rain tyres, the drying track saw multiple changes of position.
Michael van der Mark pushed into Sykes’ lead on lap four, with his team-mate Nicky Hayden just behind.
Sykes got swamped on lap five, by first VDM, then Brookes and Hayden.
Brookes led over the line on lap five, with the order shuffling throughout the top places as some riders found more grip or risk than others.
With the sun shining strongly from lap seven on Brookes led on a drying track.
Rea pitted after lap eight, for slick tyres, Sykes right afterwards.
The top riders started to pit one by one for dry tyres.
Brookes continued out front on his Milwaukee BMW, but Hayden was catching him.
Leaders Brookes and Davies and Hayden entered the pit lane together, but Brookes crashed at turn 9 on lap 14.
In the final laps, once the race order had been largely sorted out up front, 12 riders finished on the same lap as Rea, and 20 finished in all.
