Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) won his first ever race at Laguna Seca after a 25-lap contest with his team-mate Tom Sykes, who eventually finished 0.819 seconds behind.
In third place Nicky Hayden (Honda World Superbike Team) held off a final corner attempted pass from his team-mate Michael van der Mark, to record a popular home town podium.
Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) placed fifth, just behind the internal Honda battle, with Lorenzo Savadori (IodaRacing Team Aprilia) sixth, and first Aprilia rider home.
Both lead Ducati riders fell from podium positions, Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) just after taking the lead early in the race and his team-mate Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) of and out from third place on lap 14.
Behind the top six finishers Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) had a strong seventh, 1.7 seconds from Savadori, and just ahead of his fellow Spaniard Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team). Aprilia’s second rider, Alex De Angelis (IodaRacing Team Aprilia) was ninth and the top ten rounded out by stand-in Yamaha rider, Niccolo Canepa (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team).
Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was 111th, ahead of Aussie duo Anthony West (Pedercini Racing Kawasaki) and Josh Brookes (Milwaukee BMW). Brookes had run on early in the race.
In the points, Rea now has 368 and Sykes 297 and Davies 244. Van Der Mark moved up to fourth overall with 176.
