Max Biaggi of Italy claimed the season-opening World Superbike race at Philllip Island from compatriot Marco Melandri after the reigning champion, Carlos Checa, crashed out in dramatic fashion.
The Italian bounced back in race two, claiming second after dropping to last in a heart-stopping moment on the first lap.
Biaggi was challenging Tom Sykes for the lead at turn one when he was forced wide, running off the track at more than 250kph before rejoining dead last.
With Biaggi out of the way Rea took the lead on lap two but was soon passed by race one crasher Carlos Checa on lap five.
Guintoli crashed out of seventh on lap 10, helping Biaggi’s climb back through the field as Marco Melandri passed Eugene Laverty for sixth.
Juan Lascorz joined the ever-growing list of retirees on lap 11 as Biaggi jumped to sixth ahead of Aprilia teammate Laverty and set his sights on the BMW of fellow Italian Melandri.
Biaggi went by Tom Sykes on lap 17 and the two traded blows over the next lap and a half before the Italian managed to gap the Kawasaki and chase down Jonathan Rea – passing the Honda rider with three laps remaining.
Biaggi couldn't hunt down Checa though, who recovered from a horror crash early in the day to win race two while Tom Sykes reclaimed the final podium spot from Rea in the dying stages.
It was a tough day for the Aussies with Mark Aitchison crashed out on lap two while David Johnson retired with a mechanical issue halfway through the race.
Kawasaki's Bryan Staring finished 16th behind compatriot Josh Brookes aboard a Suzuki.
Checa was ejected from his Ducati exiting the final corner on lap five at more than 180kph and was lucky to walk away.
After starting on pole Tom Sykes led early aboard his Kawasaki but faded to finish fourth behind Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli.
But ride of the race belongs to Marco Melandri who wrestled his under-done BMW from 13th on the grid to a sensational second position.
Bryan Staring was the first of the Aussies home in 10th aboard his Team Pedercini Kawasaki.
Kenan Sofuoglu has claimed a World Supersport race marred by a multi-bike crash on lap one.
A Yamaha rider appeared to lose control of his machine on the run into MG Corner, sliding down the hill and bringing down several other riders. None of the riders involved were seriously injured in the crash.
Aussie Broc Parkes was sixth early in the race and began to push with four laps remaining, climbing to fourth behind Fabien Foret, Jules Cluzel and Kenan Sofuoglu with one lap remaining.
Parkes passed teammate Cluzel for third on the final lap as the two Kawasaki riders Foret and Sofuoglu battled for the win - with Sofuoglu holding off the Frenchman.
The second Aussie in the race, Jed Metcher, was egded out of a top-10 position on the line and finished 11th.