Davies Sees Double Dutch Hopes Ended by Rival Rea

Chaz Davies saw his hopes of a third World Superbikes win in a row dashed after a terrific three-man scrap in Assen on Saturday.

The Knighton-born rider had to settle for second place as Northern Ireland’s reigning champ Jonathan Rea triumphed to claim his first win in four races.

Davies now trails Rea by 31 points heading into Sunday’s second race on the Dutch track named the Cathedral of Speed.

The Ducati rider, 29, looked set to follow-up his stunning double win at the last round at Aragon in Spain when he swept into the lead of the 21-lap race.

Davies held the lead until four laps left when Rea got past on his Kawasaki as did local rider Michael van der Mark.

But the Dutchman crashed out on the penultimate lap allowing Davies to retake second but he did not have time to deny Rea an eighth win in his last 13 races on the track.

American Nicky Hayden inherited third for his maiden pole in World Superbikes while pole winner Tom Sykes from Huddersfield crashed out.

Sykes, the 2013 world beater, stayed third in the championship standings but now trails Davies by 23 points