Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea secured his first race win of the 2018 season in front-running style after resisting early attacks from team-mate Tom Sykes, who faded to finish sixth at the end, and seven seconds down after 20 laps of heat and humidity.
With clear track ahead of him Rea pushed on and managed the gap behind, winning by just over 1.5 seconds.
The remarkable Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda) was first to relegate Sykes down the order and he looked on for a podium finish, until he was chased down and passed by first Barni Ducati’s Xavi Fores and then Chaz Davies’ Aruba Ducati, who ended up second and third respectively.
With the top three spots filled, Camier was fourth and the advancing Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha) fifth, jumping Sykes near the end to finish up top Yamaha rider.
Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha) came home just behind the Lowes/Sykes battle, in seventh.
Marco Melandri (Aruba Ducati) experienced a huge wobble at one stage of the race and dropped a place immediately, finishing up only eighth.
Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) was a second behind Melandri, with Jordi Torres (MV Agusta) right with him across the line.
The top ten riders were separated by just 11 seconds.
On his first visit to Chang Loris Baz (Gulf Althea BMW) placed 11th. American riders PJ Jacobsen (TripleM Honda) and Jake Gagne (Red Bull Honda) were 17th and 18th respectively.
In the championship Rea is now only two points behind Melandri, 58 to 56, with Fores third on 49 points. Race two takes place at Buriram on Sunday.
