Rea wins four successive World Superbike Championships

Ballyclare man Jonathan Rea has become the first rider to win four successive World Superbike Championships after clinching the top spot at the Magny-Cours circuit.

Rea has dominated the headlines this year, recording his 13th win from 21 races this season to draw level with Carl Fogarty at the top of the sport's all-time titles list.

The Kawasaki Racing Team rider needed to outscore closest championship rival Chaz Davies by nine points in France on Saturday, while conceding fewer than 12 points to third-place rider Michael van der Mark.

He achieved this easily during the opening race, making history as he secured the title with five races to spare on the same track where he was crowned world champion last season.

After starting in second place behind team-mate Tom Sykes, Rea moved to the front on the third turn of the second lap and gradually built a healthy gap to finish more than three seconds ahead of his fellow Kawasaki rider.

Barni Ducati's Xavi Fores was third and Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) fourth, while Rea's title rivals Davies (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) and Van der Mark (PATA Yamaha) were fifth and seventh respectively.