JON TO A WINNER

JONATHAN REA started in style in Spain yesterday as he chases six straight wins in defence of his World Superbike crown.

The Kawasaki rider shattered the circuit record at Aragon by 0.359secs to head off the challenge of Ducati’s Marco Melandri.

Rea, the winner of all four races in Australia and Thailand, had set the pace in the first session but was under threat next time out.

However, the Northern Ireland rider produced the perfect answer in the closing moments.

He powered in a stunning 1min 50.062secs on a circuit where he has

® From DAVE FERN struggled since its introduction in 2011.

Rea said: “I’ve had one win here but I have never been the strongest so now I am looking to maintain the form we have had in the last two rounds – I am both excited and intrigued.”

Melandri, back in action after a year out of the sport, was followed home by former champion Tom Sykes, with Rea’s team-mate third-fastest and barely a quarter of a second down.

Sykes said: “I feel we have learned in the first two rounds and can move forward and be stronger in terms of initial lap times.

“There is still more to come from me, we are looking at adjusting both my riding style and the bike settings. It is taking time.”

Sykes is third in the standings, 38 points behind Rea, although his focus is on beating Chaz Davies.

The Welshman is eight points better off than him and having won the previous three races in Spain is regarded as a circuit specialist.

He struggled with engine problems in the morning but bounced back to finish fourth fastest, ahead of Yamaha’s Alex Lowes.